News Releases

Standing up for consumer rights, the ACLU says that individuals have the right to read books, view films, and buy other items without the government keeping tabs on what they choose to read, watch, or purchase.

Shown at left are St. Sen. Rosa Franklin and WA Attorney General Rob McKenna. A new law that aims to save lives by encouraging people who witness drug overdoses to call 911 is going into effect. Promoted by the ACLU-WA and passed by the 2010 legislature, the “911 Good Samaritan” law provides immunity from drug possession charges to people who seek medical assistance in drug overdose situations.

Washington State voters passed the Medical Use of Marijuana Act in 1998 as a ballot initiative (I-692).  The information here provides a general explanation of the law.

City leaders must make clear that police use of racial epithets is unacceptable, period. In addition, officials investigating the incident should examine the role of other officers on the scene and the need for de-escalation training for police.

The ACLU passed out informational flyers as Camerahead agents took their performance art to Seattle's Cal Anderson Park.

Washington law recognizes the fundamental right of the people of Washington state to make personal decisions regarding birth control and abortion without interference by government officials.

Police chiefs, criminologists, and the American public also prefer life without the possibility of parole to a sentence of death.

After an unfavorable decision by the Washington Supreme Court, the ACLU will continue to pursue in federal court a lawsuit challenging a library Internet filtering policy. The policy hampers adult library patrons seeking information for school assignments, trying to locate organizations on the Web, or simply doing reading.

After the ACLU intervened, a female student received credit for a physical education class from which school officials wrongfully barred her due to her pregnancy.

The ACLU of Washington has filed an amicus brief urging the court to condemn the attorney’s conduct in State v. Kevin Monday in which a King County prosecutor made appeals to racial prejudice in a criminal jury trial.