Constitutional Law

Tough Times

By Suzanne Ito, ACLU

You might have heard about some tough financial times that have befallen us here at the ACLU after a large donor was forced to greatly reduce his donations. Check out what Glenn Greenwald at Salon had to say about this:

It is not hyperbole to say that, over the past decade, there has been no organization more important to the United States, the Constitution, and basic political liberties than the ACLU. From the start of the Bush/Cheney assault on core civil liberties -- when most organizations and individuals were petrified of opposing any efforts justified by "terrorism" -- the ACLU was one of a small handful of groups which defied that climate of fear by vigorously and fearlessly opposing those erosions. Along with that same small handful of civil liberties and human rights groups, the ACLU since then has been at the center of virtually every fight against government incursions into basic rights. They defend core Constitutional principles regardless of party or ideology, and they continue to lead this fight even now that Bush is gone from office. As I detailed here, their crucial efforts extend far beyond litigating and lobbying, as they have often been forced to fulfill the investigative and oversight role intended for -- but abdicated by -- our national media and Congress. Indeed, most of what we know about the Bush torture regime and other lawbreaking schemes is the result not of newspapers or Congressional investigations but the ACLU.

[...]There is a genuine risk that this loss of funding can curtail vital ACLU activities and force the loss of critical lawyers and other personnel. The need for support is genuine and substantial, and I really encourage anyone who supports the truly indispensable work they do, and who is able to do so, to express that support through membership or donation. That can be done here.

To those of you who are members and have and continue to donate to the ACLU, we can't thank you enough. Your generosity allows us to carry on with this important work.

If you haven't given, we hope you will today.

Full post as published by Blog of Rights on December 11, 2009 (boomark / email).