American Civil Liberties Union

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a U.S. nonprofit civil-rights and civil-liberties organization founded in 1920. It works through constitutional litigation, legislative advocacy, public education, coalition building, and policy research. Its national organization is supported by affiliates in every state, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, making it one of the broadest civil-liberties networks in the country. The organization developed from the National Civil Liberties Bureau, which had been established during the First World War to defend anti-war expression and conscientious objectors. The ACLU retained free speech as a central concern, while expanding into racial equality, religious liberty, reproductive freedom, immigrants’ rights, criminal-justice reform, voting rights, disability rights, privacy, LGBTQ equality, and opposition to torture and the death penalty. It generally frames its work in terms of constitutional protections and equal application of rights, rather than representing one religious, ethnic, occupational, or political constituency. The ACLU provides direct representation in selected cases and files amicus briefs when another firm or organization is handling the litigation. It also lobbies public officials through its 501(c)(4) organization and conducts charitable litigation, education, and research through the ACLU Foundation, a 501(c)(3). State affiliates maintain their own boards, budgets, staffs, and legal dockets, although they cooperate with the national organization and may receive financial support from it. A defining feature of the ACLU is its stated willingness to defend expressive rights even when the speaker or message is unpopular, offensive, or politically opposed to the organization’s other positions. Over its history it has represented or defended communists, Nazis, Ku Klux Klan members, flag burners, accused terrorists, anti-LGBTQ activists, and other controversial speakers. This approach has produced criticism from both the political left and right, as well as internal debates over whether particular cases advance or undermine equality and public safety. The organization’s position is that constitutional guarantees lose meaning if they are reserved only for popular viewpoints. The ACLU is not a commercial brand and does not sell conventional consumer products. Its principal offerings are legal services in civil-liberties cases, appellate and amicus advocacy, legislative lobbying, public-interest campaigns, educational materials, and policy analysis. It is funded primarily by donations and grants, with separate legal and financial arrangements for its national entities and affiliates. As of September 2025, Deborah Archer served as national president and Anthony D. Romero as executive director. The organization remains active across the United States on issues including abortion access, LGBTQ rights, immigration, voting, free expression, racial justice, religious liberty, and criminal-law reform.

The ACLU originated in the National Civil Liberties Bureau, created during the First World War by Crystal Eastman and Roger Nash Baldwin. The bureau concentrated on opposition to wartime restrictions on speech and on assistance for conscientious objectors. On January 19, 1920, its directors reorganized the group under the name American Civil Liberties Union. Albert DeSilver was also among the early founders. Baldwin became the organization’s dominant early leader. During the 1920s, the ACLU focused heavily on free speech, labor organizing, anti-war expression, and the rights of political minorities. Government officials frequently targeted socialists and communists, who consequently became important ACLU clients. The organization also worked with the NAACP on racial-discrimination matters and defended academic and classroom expression. Its advocacy brought opposition from patriotic, business, and conservative organizations that regarded its positions as disruptive or subversive. The organization’s constitutional work broadened during the interwar period. It addressed censorship, labor rights, religious liberty, racial discrimination, and the rights of unpopular political groups. Internal disagreements were recurrent. The leadership debated whether to defend Henry Ford’s distribution of anti-union material in 1937 and whether communists should hold leadership positions in 1939. During the McCarthy era, the board was divided over the extent to which communist defendants should receive organizational support. In the postwar decades the ACLU became increasingly involved in church-state disputes, criminal procedure, racial equality, reproductive rights, and freedom of expression. It opposed official prayer in public schools and challenged government religious displays and preferences. Its litigation helped establish or reinforce constitutional protections involving due process, speech, association, privacy, and equal treatment. The organization also became active in defending prisoners, opposing capital punishment and torture, and contesting excessive criminal penalties. The civil-rights era expanded the ACLU’s work against discrimination based on race, religion, sex, and national origin. Later decades brought sustained advocacy for women’s reproductive decision-making, LGBTQ equality, immigrants, people with disabilities, voting rights, and transgender people. The ACLU has also litigated on behalf of free speech for conservative and extremist speakers, maintaining that viewpoint-neutral protection is essential even when the underlying ideas are repugnant. The organization’s structure now combines a national ACLU entity and the ACLU Foundation, with separate 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(3) functions. Affiliates operate throughout the states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. The national president chairs the board and assists with fundraising and policy direction, while the executive director manages operations. The ACLU remains a major participant in American public-interest litigation and policy debates, although its positions and case choices continue to attract criticism from people who believe it is either insufficiently progressive or too politically partisan.

• 2025

  Deborah Archer serves as president

  [1]American Civil Liberties Unionen.wikipedia.org

  Deborah Archer was identified as national president, with Anthony Romero continuing as executive director, as of September 2025.

• 2004

  Donation terms rejected over Patriot Act language

  [1]American Civil Liberties Unionen.wikipedia.org

  The ACLU rejected proposed foundation donations because their contractual restrictions were viewed as threats to civil-liberties principles.

• 2001

  Anthony Romero becomes executive director

  [5]Anthony Romero becomes executive directoren.wikipedia.org

  Anthony D. Romero began serving as the organization’s executive director.

• 1976

  Civil-rights attorney-fee framework strengthened

  [4]Civil-rights attorney-fee framework strengtheneden.wikipedia.org

  The Civil Rights Attorney’s Fees Award Act created an important basis for successful civil-rights plaintiffs and organizations to recover legal fees from government defendants.

• 1939

  Debate over communist leadership membership

  [1]American Civil Liberties Unionen.wikipedia.org

  A major internal dispute concerned whether communists should be barred from ACLU leadership roles.

• 1937

  Internal debate over Henry Ford speech

  [1]American Civil Liberties Unionen.wikipedia.org

  The leadership debated whether to defend Henry Ford’s right to distribute anti-union literature.

• 1920

  American Civil Liberties Union founded

  [1]American Civil Liberties Unionen.wikipedia.org

  The National Civil Liberties Bureau was reorganized under the ACLU name on January 19, 1920.

• 1917

  National Civil Liberties Bureau established

  [1]American Civil Liberties Unionen.wikipedia.org

  Crystal Eastman and Roger Nash Baldwin helped establish the National Civil Liberties Bureau to defend anti-war expression and conscientious objectors during the First World War.

A nonpartisan, rights-based public-interest organization focused on defending constitutional liberties and extending civil-rights protections through courts, legislatures, and public education.

• Legal advocacy · 1920

  Civil-liberties litigation

  The ACLU and its affiliates represent selected plaintiffs in constitutional and civil-rights cases against public authorities and other defendants. Matters can involve speech, discrimination, voting, immigration, reproductive rights, privacy, criminal justice, religious liberty, and LGBTQ equality. The organization may litigate at trial, on appeal, or before the U.S. Supreme Court.

• Legal advocacy · 1920

  Amicus curiae advocacy

  When another organization or law firm represents the parties, the ACLU may submit friend-of-the-court briefs presenting constitutional arguments and broader civil-liberties implications. This allows it to influence precedent without serving as the principal counsel in every case.

• Policy advocacy · 1920

  Legislative advocacy

  The ACLU’s 501(c)(4) organization lobbies legislatures and public officials on policies involving free expression, voting, immigration, reproductive freedom, criminal justice, religious liberty, racial equality, and LGBTQ rights. State affiliates adapt national priorities to local legislation and litigation.

• Education and research · 1920

  Public education and policy research

  Through the ACLU Foundation and related programs, the organization publishes explanations, reports, campaign materials, and legal analysis intended to inform the public and support civil-rights organizing. These activities complement litigation and legislative work.

• 2020

  ACLU files suit against Clearview AI over biometric privacy

  The ACLU and other plaintiffs filed a Cook County complaint alleging that Clearview violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act by using residents’ facial and fingerprint identifiers without consent. The article reports allegations, not a court determination.

  Source

• 2017

  Criticism over defense of Unite the Right-related speech

  The ACLU faced criticism after defending constitutional speech and assembly principles in matters connected with the Unite the Right rally. The controversy intensified debate over whether the organization should represent groups whose activities or messages are associated with racism and extremism.

  Source

• 2009

  Internal criticism of fundraising direction

  Former board member Wendy Kaminer criticized the organization’s expanded fundraising practices and argued that leadership could become too responsive to donors.

  Source

• 2005

  Debate over internal gag-rule proposal

  Internal disagreement concerned whether employees should be restricted from publicly discussing disputes within the organization.

  Source

Read more

• 2024Immigrants’ rights and criminal-law reform

  United States

  The ACLU continued coordinated national and affiliate work concerning detention, due process, immigration enforcement, incarceration, excessive punishment, prisoners’ rights, and access to counsel.

  Outcome. Ongoing

  Source
• 2023LGBTQ and transgender rights advocacy

  United States

  The organization pursued legal challenges and policy advocacy against discrimination affecting LGBTQ people, including restrictions on gender-affirming care and transgender participation in public life.

  Outcome. Ongoing litigation and advocacy

  Source
• 2022Reproductive freedom advocacy after Dobbs

  United States

  Following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the ACLU expanded litigation, public education, and legislative advocacy concerning abortion access and reproductive decision-making.

  Outcome. Ongoing

  Source
• 2020Voting rights and election protection

  United States

  The ACLU and state affiliates pursued litigation and advocacy concerning voting access, election administration, voter suppression, and the rights of marginalized voters.

  Outcome. Ongoing multi-state advocacy

  Source

• 2024

  Prioritize reproductive, LGBTQ, voting, immigration, and criminal-justice advocacyStrategy

  Background

  The organization’s recent annual-report priorities reflected intensified national conflict over abortion, elections, immigration enforcement, LGBTQ rights, and criminal law.

  Action taken

  The ACLU directed litigation, lobbying, and public education toward these issue areas while continuing its longstanding free-speech and religious-liberty work.

  Aftermath

  The organization remained active through its national program and state affiliates across the country.

  Source

• 2017

  Reassess representation of armed extremist groupsStrategy

  Background

  Criticism following the Unite the Right rally raised questions about the risks of representing demonstrators whose conduct or objectives could include violence or intimidation.

  Action taken

  The ACLU and affiliates reconsidered case-selection and representation policies concerning armed protesters and groups associated with violent events.

  Aftermath

  The controversy produced broader discussion about viewpoint neutrality, public safety, and the limits of free-speech litigation.

  Source

• 2004

  Reject foundation grants with Patriot Act restrictionsStrategy

  Background

  The Ford Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation proposed donation language incorporating restrictions associated with the USA PATRIOT Act.

  Action taken

  The ACLU declined $1.5 million in proposed grants because it considered the restrictions ambiguous and inconsistent with civil-liberties principles.

  Aftermath

  The decision reinforced the organization’s position that funding conditions should not compromise its ability to advocate or litigate independently.

  Source

• 2020-05-28

  ACLU files suit against Clearview AI over biometric privacy[10]ACLU files suit against Clearview AI over biometric privacychicago.suntimes.com

  Reported: 2020-05-28

  The ACLU and other plaintiffs filed a Cook County complaint alleging that Clearview violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act by using residents’ facial and fingerprint identifiers without consent. The article reports allegations, not a court determination.

1. 1American Civil Liberties Unionen.wikipedia.org
2. 2American Civil Liberties Union: Aboutaclu.org
3. 3ACLU Issuesaclu.org
4. 4Civil-rights attorney-fee framework strengtheneden.wikipedia.org
5. 5Anthony Romero becomes executive directoren.wikipedia.org
6. 6Voting rights and election protectionaclu.org
7. 7Reproductive freedom advocacy after Dobbsaclu.org
8. 8LGBTQ and transgender rights advocacyaclu.org
9. 9Immigrants’ rights and criminal-law reformaclu.org
10. 10ACLU files suit against Clearview AI over biometric privacychicago.suntimes.com