ACLU respects the privacy rights of individuals gathering at a somber moment, but at the same time, recognize that freedom of speech and assembly are cherished rights that need to be upheld. This country was founded on the right to protest. You can't pick which protesters should speak and who can't. |
It is vital that questions be asked about the monitoring. What criterion is used when identifying suspicious characters? Will there be racial or ethnic profiling? Is the government infringing on our right to privacy? Unfortunately, when you put up cameras you think you're safer. |
It's unfortunate some people thought production of the plates was under way. There's another step to take. |
Tennessee must ensure that all residents can express their views equally. The state cannot be in the business of limiting some speech while allowing other speech. |
The ACLU has not given up on free speech in Tennessee. Tennessee residents who are pro-choice should have just as much right to express their view on a specialty license plate as those residents who are anti-choice. |
The certificate program, while discriminatory to begin with, at least ensured that drivers were trained and had insurance. |
The court said in its decision that messages on specialty license plates are government speech. This position is inconsistent with the reality of the license plate program. It suggests that plates for the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the University of Florida are state speech. This is absurd. |
The framers of the Tennessee Constitution put specific safeguards in place to guarantee that the voters are given ample opportunity to engage in public debate and discussion before amending the Constitution. Those requirements should be followed exactly as the founders required. |
The posting of the Ten Commandments sends the message that only certain believers can receive justice at the courthouse. |
The resolution is an all-out attack on the women of Tennessee and seeks to rob women of their right to make choices about their own health, safety and personal welfare. |
The state of Tennessee cannot silence viewpoints it doesn't like. The specialty plate program, in its current form, gags some speech while championing others. |
We have a very strong case with good facts. |