News Releases

News Release, Published: 
Friday, September 24, 2010
U.S. District Court Judge Ronald Leighton has ordered the Air Force to reinstate Major Margaret Witt, a decorated flight nurse who had been dismissed under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. After six days of trial, the Court found that Major Witt’s sexual orientation does not negatively impact unit morale or cohesion.  ACLU of Washington attorneys have directly represented Major Witt since her case began in 2006.
News Release, Published: 
Friday, September 10, 2010
The landmark case of Major Margaret Witt, a decorated U.S. Air Force nurse dismissed on grounds that she engaged in homosexual conduct, went to trial on Sept. 13 in U.S. District Court in Tacoma.  The ACLU of Washington is representing Maj. Witt in challenging her discharge under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Pictured above: Major Witt (far right) deployed in Oman.
News Release, Published: 
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
In the wake of the tragic shooting of a Native American wood carver, the ACLU-WA told Seattle leaders they must provide leadership in preventing overreactions by police. Among other changes, officers must be trained to understand that “appearing different” doesn’t make someone a threat to public safety.
News Release, Published: 
Monday, August 30, 2010
The ACLU of Washington has told the Oak Harbor School Board that a proposed policy for searching student cell phones goes too far. It violates privacy to allow school administrators to search student cell phones without the permission of students or their parents.
News Release, Published: 
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Public records obtained by the ACLU-WA show that the University of Washington Police Department authorized an undercover officer to attend, participate in, and collect information about meetings student activists on campus. ACLU-WA executive director Kathleen Taylor and recent UW Law School graduates Salmun Kazerounian and Sarah White discussed concerns at a press conference at the ACLU office.
News Release, Published: 
Friday, July 2, 2010
  Racial, ethnic, disability, sexual orientation, and other kinds of discrimination remains a pervasive problem in Washington schools. Discrimination shows up in a variety of forms, among them harassment, disparate discipline including suspensions and expulsions, over-referral to special education, and under-inclusion in advanced-placement classes. Such discrimination contributes to lower achievement and higher dropout rates among student populations.   Originally published in the Summer 2010 issue of the WSBA Civil Rights Newsletter. 
News Release, Published: 
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
In response to civil liberties threats caused by the passage of Arizona's racial profiling law, the ACLU of Washington issued a travel alert today informing Washington residents of their rights when stopped by law enforcement when traveling in Arizona. News Flash: Court Blocks Implementation of Key Sections of Arizona's Racial Profiling Law
News Release, Published: 
Monday, June 28, 2010
Three law enforcement agencies in Washington are paying a total of $418,000 to resolve a lawsuit over the wrongful arrest and covert surveillance of an Olympia activist who was prevented from participating in a lawful demonstration.
News Release, Published: 
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Founded in 1935 by a small group of labor activists and others in Seattle, the ACLU of Washington has grown to become a statewide organization with more than 20,000 card-carrying members and a staff of nearly 30.

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