ACLU: American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan

About the Southwestern Branch

The ACLU of Michigan Southwestern Branch serves Allegan, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren Counties.

Meetings
Upcoming Events
History
Board Members
Get Involved

To contact the Southwestern Branch:
Email us at: southwestern@aclumich.org

To request assistance or file a complaint:
Call 313-578-6800 or file a complaint online.

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Meetings

Regular meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. For location information, email us at southwestern@aclumich.org

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Upcoming Events

Kalamazoo Civil Liberties Film Festival
Saffron Restaurant, Kalamazoo | Select Fridays in February & March

Presented by the ACLU of Michigan Southwestern Branch, the Kalamazoo Civil Liberties Film Festival showcases groundbreaking films that deal with essential civil liberties issues: civic engagement, citizenship, free speech, privacy and more.

An Indian buffet dinner for $15.00 precedes the film. 

Schedule for the 2012 Kalamazoo Civil Liberties Film Festival

Friday, February 10 - Tying the Knot (2004)

Friday, February 24 - The Siege (1998)

Friday, March 9 - Minority Report (2002)

Friday, March 23 - The Party's Over (2001)

To learn more about future ACLU events in the Kalamazoo area, sign up for email action alerts.

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History

Student Civil Liberties Lectures - Privacy in the Digital Age | November 2
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo

Thanks to all the students and civil liberties supporters who attended the third in our series of Student Civil Liberties Lectures on November 2. Expert Dr. Virginia Rezmierski and branch member Pete Armstrong discussed how our civil liberties are adapting to an increasingly technological age.

The Constitution guarantees the right to privacy and free speech, but new government powers that allow greater surveillance are dangerously chilling speech and political dissent. Technology is moving so fast that legislation protecting our rights often lags behind, undermining our freedom and moving us closer to a surveillance society.

Student Civil Liberties Lectures - LGBT Rights in Michigan | October 25
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo

Thanks to all who joined our LGBT Project Staff Attorney Jay Kaplan to discuss the social, economic, and legal impact of discrimination faced by gay and transgender people and their families.

Current Michigan law does not prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation, leaving many at risk of being fired, evicted or denied services because they are gay or transgender. The ACLU of Michigan is advocating to change Michigan's civil rights law to end this injustice.

Celebrating Freedom of Expression and the Press
Kalamazoo Public Library, Kalamazoo

Thanks to all who marked National Banned Books Week in September by defying censorship at our annual Banned Books Read-Out. Local activists and celebrities gathered at the Kalamazoo Public Library to read from the year’s most frequently banned and challenged books amongst the works of local artists entered to win the Banned Books Art Contest.

This year’s winner in the Adult category was Randal Brumitt with a piece entitled The Hope List. Hannah Higgins took top prize in the Junior category with her piece inspired by Huck Finn. This year’s runner-up winners were Maryangela Thornton for Stay Alive and Maureen Reed with Huck & Jim. Congratulations to the winners, and to all who enjoy the freedom to read.

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Board of Directors

Co-President: Jacquelyn Taylor
Co-President: Sue Nelmes
Vice President: Eric Pott
Treasurer: Don Brown
Secretary: Ashlyn Kuersten

Board Members:
Garrett Brookmyer
David Crocker
Joyce De Right
Hannelore Eck
Jessica Hermann-Wilmarth
Peter Kobrak
Dorphine Payne
John Targowski
John Vollmer

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Get Involved with Your Local ACLU

Would you like to become more involved with the ACLU? Consider volunteering with the Southwestern Branch or running for election to the Board of Directors.

Any dues-paying ACLU member is eligible to run for the local board of directors. Members of the board are required to:

• Attend a monthly business meeting of the board;
• Participate in committee work including but not limited to social committees, event committees, outreach committees and membership recruitment committees; and
• Represent the ACLU at local meetings or functions as necessary.

Board members should have a strong commitment to a range of civil liberties and civil rights issues. No particular educational or professional background is required. Gender, racial/ethnic, and religious diversity, as well as ability, sexual orientation, age and experience as an immigrant are just some forms of diversity that are important to us in maintaining a vibrant, active board.

Don't have time to participate on a board or simply prefer to be active in other ways? We can always use the help of volunteers for our activities and events. Regular volunteer activities include staffing ACLU information tables at local fairs and festivals, helping organize educational events and more.

Get involved by emailing us today