Press Releases

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State House Passes School Employee Drug Test Bill

HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today passed legislation to mandate all prospective school employees to submit to government-sanctioned drug tests. The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania called House Bill 810, “invasive, impractical, and unconstitutional.”

December 10, 2013

ACLU-PA Files Lawsuit Against Pittsburgh Police Officer for Racially Motivated False Arrest

PITTSBURGH - The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania filed a federal lawsuit today on behalf of Dennis Henderson, an African-American teacher who was arrested and jailed for 12 hours after criticizing the speed of a white Pittsburgh police officer driving by.

November 19, 2013

Judge Denies Commonwealth's Bid to Dismiss First Freedom to Marry Lawsuit

HARRISBURG, PA - A federal judge today denied the commonwealth of Pennsylvania's request to dismiss the first lawsuit challenging Pennsylvania's ban on marriage by same-sex couples. The case, Whitewood v.

November 15, 2013

Pennsylvania School Districts Removing Students at an Alarming Rate

PHILADELPHIA – Pennsylvania’s 500 public school districts have dramatically increased their reliance on disciplinary practices that result in students being removed from school over the past 15 years, creating an educational crisis that goes far beyond the state’s largest school system in Philade

November 14, 2013

Lawsuit on Behalf of Man Arrested for Recording Police Officer Settles

PITTSBURGH – The Point Marion Police Department has paid $65,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania on behalf of a Fayette County man who was arrested in 2012 for using his cell phone to audio-record a police officer.

October 9, 2013

State House Committee Passes Prescription Surveillance Bill Hours After Introduction

HARRISBURG (September 23)- Mere hours after introduction, the Pennsylvania House Human Services Committee passed legislation today to collect data on millions of prescription drug users in the commonwealth.

September 23, 2013