Free Speech
Press Releases
Legislative Alerts
Past Events
Current Docket
Resources
The First Amendment protects individuals' right to free expression. The First Amendment ensures that individuals have the right to speak, publish, assemble and protest, no matter the content of their speech. In fact, the First Amendment exists precisely to protect the most controversial, hateful or obnoxious speech from government suppression. The First Amendment protects all types of both pure and symbolic speech, including the right to read books, listen to music, watch movies, engage in artistic performances, and wear logos. The guarantees of the First Amendment demonstrate that the best way to counter problematic speech is always with more speech, not less speech. ACLU-TN has long fought to protect individuals' right to speak, read, publish and protest freely.
Press Releases
October 31, 2011: ACLU-TN Victory in Protecting Occupy Nashville's Free Speech
October 19, 2011: Tennessee High School Affirms Students' First Amendment Rights After Dispute Over Gay-Straight Alliance
October 4, 2011: Tennessee High School Student: Principal Assaulted Me for Wearing T-Shirt Supporting Gay-Straight Alliance. ACLU Demands Protection for Students' Rights to Free Speech.
June 29, 2011: ACLU Files Lawsuit Against City of Brentwood for Freedom of Press Violations
June 28, 2011: ACLU-TN Prepared to Challenge New "Offensive Images" Law
June 15, 2011: ACLU -TN Challenges Sevierville Fortune-Telling Restrictions in Federal Court
June 14, 2011: ACLU-TN Demands That the City of Memphis Cease Intimidation of Labor Activist
May 4, 2011: ACLU-TN Urges Schools to Keep Graduation and Prom Inclusive for All Students
December 21, 2010: Tennessee Law Enforcement Classifies
Protected Free Speech as “Suspicious Activity” - State Fusion Center Tracks ACLU of Tennessee
October 8, 2010: Fortune-Telling Ban Challenged in Federal Court - ACLU of Tennessee Files Suit on Behalf of East Ridge Spiritual Counselor
May 7, 2010: Peace Activist's Free Speech Rights Protected - Federal Court Dismisses $40 Billion Suit
May 1, 2006: ACLU Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Review Tennessee's Anti-Choice License Plate Program
April 21, 2006: ACLU Hails Federal Appeals Court Ruling Delaying Production of Tennessee’s Anti-Choice License Plate
April 7, 2006: ACLU Asks Federal Appeals Court to Delay Tennessee's Production of Anti-Choice License Plate
March 17, 2006: ACLU Troubled By Appeals Court Decision Allowing Anti-Choice License Plate in Tennessee
January 30, 2006: ACLU-TN Opposes Outright Ban on Lobbyist Campaign Contributions
November 2, 2005: ACLU Asks Appeals Court to Uphold Ruling Blocking Anti-Choice License Plate in TN
June 2, 2005: ACLU Media Alert - Use of Lethal Injection Chemical Blocks Public's First Amendment Right to Know - ACLU-TN Files Friend of Court Brief
May 25, 2005: ACLU-TN Press Release: Accompanied by an ACLU-TN Attorney, Eagleville School Valedictorian Receives His Diploma
December 14, 2004: ACLU-TN Celebrates Bill of Rights Day by Distributing Bookmarks
September 27, 2004: Patriotism and Protest: Your Right to Dissent - ACLU-TN Meeting on Saturday, Oct 2 at Green Hills Library at 2:30 p.m.
September 23, 2004: ACLU and Planned Parenthood Ask Tennessee Court to Block Anti-Choice Specialty License Plate
June 7, 2004: Agreeing with ACLU Arguments, Tennessee Court Overturns Local Ban on Fortune-Telling
August 26, 2004: ACLU-TN Announces "Voices for Freedom" Public Awareness Campaign
November 6, 2003: ACLU and PPFA File Lawsuit To Block TN "Choose Life" Specialty License Plates Law
September 24, 2003: Celebrate the Freedom to Read Events in Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Memphis - Wednesday and Thursday
July 24, 2003: ACLU-TN Challenges Ban on Fortune Telling
June 17, 2003: ACLU-TN Disappointed by Governor's choice not to veto Choose Life License plate bill; exploring litigation
Legislative Alerts
ACLU-TN Legislative Highlights: Access to Information/Free Speech, 106th Tennessee General Assembly, 2009-2010
May 11, 2009: Reproductive Freedom, Free Speech, Privacy and More at Stake at the Legislature This Week
May 4, 2009: Legislative Alert: Privacy, LGBT Rights, Religious Freedom, Reproductive Freedom, Voting Rights and Equal Treatment Under the Law at Stake
April 27, 2009: Legislative Alert: Free Speech, LGBT Rights, Reproductive Freedom, Immigrants' Rights and More
April 13, 2009: Legislative Alert: Contact Your Legislators on Free Speech, LGBT Rights, Religious Freedom, Immigrants' Rights and More
May 9, 2008: ACLU-TN Chart of 2008 TGA Bills Related to Free Speech
ACLU-TN Legislative Chart: Free Speech, 104th TGA, 2005 - 2006
(34 KB)
February 22, 2006: Oppose Protest Ban
January 27, 2006: Ethics Reform - Call Your Legislators to Protect Your Right to Petition the Government
June 17, 2003: Governor to make decision today on Choose Life License Plate; Call ASAP and tell him to Veto
May 30, 2003: Urge TN Representatives to Vote No on the Flag Desecration Constitutional Amendment
May 30, 2003: ACLU Opposes Choose Life License Plate; Calls on Governor to Veto
April 18, 2003: Urge TN legislators to Oppose "Choose Life" License Plate
Past Events
Monday, September 26, 2005: "Celebrate the Freedom to Read" event, Memphis
Tuesday, September 27, 2005: "Celebrate the Freedom to Read" events, Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga
October 5, 2004: "Where We Stand: Voices of Southern Dissent"
October 2, 2004: "Patriotism and Protest: Your Right to Dissent"
September 28, 2004:"Celebrate the Freedom to Read" Events
August 27, 2004: ACLU-TN Announces "Voices for Freedom" - Fall Outreach Campaign
September 24 and 25, 2003: "Celebrate the Freedom to Read" Events
September 24 and 26, 2002: "Literature of Troubled Times Events"
September 25, 2001: "Celebrate the Freedom to Read" Event in Nashville
September 25, 2001: "Celebrate the Freedom to Read" Event in Memphis
Robin Read v. Lifeweaver and Dan Frasier (U.S. District Court of Eastern Tennessee)
Abu-Ali Abdur’Rahman v. Bredesen, et al.
(Supreme Court of Tennessee)
American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, et. al. v. Bredesen
(United States District Court of Middle District of Tennessee at Nashville)
Resources
Your Right to Protest in Tennessee (82 KB)
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) - Requesting Records From Federal Agencies (23 KB)
Tennessee Open Records Act - Requesting Records From State Agencies (20 KB)
Free Speech - National ACLU
