News & Commentary

The American Civil Liberties Union and Yale University have teamed up to defend students right to access information as part of their Don’t Filter Me Project. Schools across the country have been using web filters to block educational websites supportive of LGBT issues, including schools right here in Michigan. These illegal filters essentially silence LGBT voices from schools.

It's not always easy keeping up to date on all the civil liberties issues we deal with. That's why once a week, we run down recent news and events in our Rights Review. This week we're shocked at news that puts health care for Michigan workers at risk, we're letting free speech out of its cage and asking the question: why hasn't your privacy been protected since MacGyver was on air?

Whether articulating an opinion or crying out against injustice, the human voice is one of the most precious things protected by the Bill of Rights. 50 years ago, bands of activists fought for civil rights in the segregated South. Read on to learn about the ACLU of Michigan's link to the Freedom Riders. This week we're hearing opinions on our current cases and honoring those who risked injury for justice.

Civil liberties abuses are often felt first by the most vulnerable segments of our society.

With incredible cases and an amazing amount of support from civil liberties fans, it seems like we've been working around the clock.

Defending our essential civil liberties from being taken away is always important ...but some weeks make us especially proud.

In a sea of Planned-Parenthood-pink during a visit with Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow during the Stand Up for Women’s Health Lobby Day, a young man raised his hand and asked the million dollar question – why should men be involved in the fight for women’s reproductive health? It was a good question, with a complicated answer, but one that would be a game-changer for women’s equality. Sen. Stabenow answered that men have to share responsibility for birth control in a relationship and men have to be concerned about sexually transmitted infections. And it’s so much more than that. So how do we answer the question for this obviously enlightened young man and those like him who rode a bus for 12 hours from Detroit to Washington, D.C., to spend six hours at a rally defending family planning? Men, who now dominate congressional leadership, are in the position to make decisions that most critically affect the reproductive rights of women in America. Women have never come close to representing our 51 percent of the population in elected positions and the 2010 election cycle was especially brutal across the nation with regards to equal representation. And as much as we hate to admit it, we exist in a society where decision-making power and earning power continue to be dominated by men. Therefore:

You can’t help but smile when you see the pride on Ehlena’s face as she instructs her service dog, Wonder, to open a door or help her take off her coat. While Ehlena takes great pride in Wonder, her parents, Stacy and Brent Fry, marvel at all that Ehlena herself has accomplished. With Wonder’s assistance, Ehlena’s self-confidence and independence have flourished despite her cerebral palsy.It’s been nearly one year since we first blogged about Ehlena. Back in October 2009, Ehlena and her family brought Wonder home to Michigan after several weeks of training. Ehlena was eager to take Wonder to class with her, but her school district wouldn’t allow it.The ACLU of Michigan intervened, and in April 2010 Ehlena’s school district agreed to allow Wonder to accompany her through the end of the school year.However, the victory was short-lived. The school district is again refusing to allow Wonder into class, maintaining that because Ehlena herself is not Wonder’s “handler,” he cannot be a service dog.Currently, Wonder outweighs Elena by nearly 50 pounds and like many small children who rely on service dogs, Ehlena needs a “handler” to assist her.While Ehlena is responsible for commanding Wonder, her mother Stacy has a limited role of physically managing Wonder until Ehlena is older.Recently, federal regulations related to service animals were corrected making it clear that a service animal’s handler is not necessarily the individual with a disability.We hope this change in the regulations will also make a difference for Ehlena.The change in the regulations was a victory for all those who utilize service dogs but may not be able to totally control the service animal themselves for various reasons," said Ehlena' mother. "During our long and continuous journey, this is a step in the right direction, not only for our daughter’s independence and inclusion, but all those affected by similar situations."On the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act into law, we filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education on behalf of Ehlena. To date, Wonder is still not allowed in the classroom.The investigation is still pending, but we hope Wonder will be in the classroom soon.

There's nothing more wholesome and quintessentially American than a day at the ballgame with your kids.At least until an honest mistake means you have to move out of your home and your child is taken away by authorities.This story and more on the civil liberties front in Your Weekly Rights Review.