Freedom of Expression & Religion

The First Amendment guarantees all Americans the freedoms of speech, press, religion, assembly, and protects their right to petition the government.

Three images side by side of people holding signs at protests

Since 1952, the ACLU of Colorado has worked to preserve Coloradans’ fundamental First Amendment rights. We work for the preservation of free speech in all arenas, including the internet, schools, parades, and political rallies. In advance of the 2008 Democratic National Convention, we filed a groundbreaking lawsuit against Denver and the Secret Service seeking to protect the rights of those who wished to publicly assemble and express their views during the convention. We advocate for the free exercise of religion and the prevention of excessive entanglement of government and religion, including opposition to spending taxpayer money on religious activities, such as tuition tax credits for religious education.

The Latest

Press Release
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ACLU of Colorado Sues Elizabeth School District Over Book Bans

The ACLU of Colorado, representing C.C., a student at Elizabeth High School, E.S., a student in the Elizabeth School District (ESD), the NAACP – Colorado – Montana – Wyoming State Area Conference (NAACP), and the Authors Guild, sued the Elizabeth School District for removing books
Press Release
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Federal Appeals Court Upholds Decision in Denver Protester Case

A federal appeals court held yesterday that three Aurora police officers and the City of Aurora must face trial for violating the constitutional rights of two plaintiffs during the 2020 protests of the murder of George Floyd.
Press Release
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ACLU Sues Woodland Park School District Over Unlawful Banishment of Critic from Board Meetings

ACLU of Colorado lawyers filed a lawsuit today on behalf of Logan Ruths, a longtime resident of Woodland Park, Colorado and a vocal critic of the Woodland Park School District’s current leadership.
Press Release
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ACLU Files Amicus Brief Urging Supreme Court to Reject Attempt to Weaken Civil Rights Law

The American Civil Liberties Union and the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court today urging the court to reject a First Amendment challenge to a Colorado civil rights law requiring businesses open to the public to treat customers equally.
Court Case
Jun 13, 2025

Crookshanks, et al. v. Elizabeth School District

The ACLU of Colorado sued the Elizabeth School District because it banned and removed at least 19 books from school libraries based on the school board’s disagreement with the ideas they contain. The plaintiffs include students who have a right to access those books...
Court Case
Dec 18, 2024

Epps, et al. v. City and County of Denver, et al.

In a precedent setting opinion, the court stated that “the use of less-lethal munitions—as with any other type of pain-inflicting compliance technique—is unconstitutionally excessive force when applied to an unthreatening protester who has neither committed a serious offense nor attempted to flee."
Court Case
Oct 23, 2024

St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy (Amicus)

We filed an amicus brief arguing that there is no Free Exercise Clause violation when a governmental body conditions a public benefit on a religion-neutral and generally applicable requirement.
Court Case
Oct 15, 2024

SeeWalker v. Vail

Danielle SeeWalker was selected as Vail’s summer 2024 Artist in Residence. But after she expressed her views on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Vail cancelled her residency. We sued Vail on behalf of Ms. SeeWalker for the town's unconstitutional viewpoint-based discrimination and retaliation.