The ACLU is our nation’s guardian of liberty, working daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country.

These rights include:

• Your First Amendment rights – freedom of speech, association and assembly; freedom of the press, and freedom of religion.
• Your right to equal protection under the law – protection against unlawful discrimination.
• Your right to due process – fair treatment by the government whenever the loss of your liberty or property is at stake.
• Your right to privacy – freedom from unwarranted government intrusion into your personal and private affairs.

The ACLU also works to extend rights to segments of our population that have traditionally been denied their rights, including people of color; women; lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people; prisoners; and people with disabilities.

If the rights of society’s most vulnerable members are denied, everybody’s rights are imperiled.

(From: ACLU.org)

Three things you should know about the ACLU

We're for traditional American values. In many ways, the ACLU is the nation's most conservative organization. Our job is to conserve America's original civic values -- the Constitution and the Bill of Rights -- and defend the rights of every man, woman, and child in this country.

We're not anti-anything. The only things we fight are attempts to take away or limit your civil liberties, like your right to practice any religion you want (or none at all). Or to speak out -- for or against -- anything at all. Or to be treated with equality and fairness, no matter who you are.

We're there for you. Rich or poor, straight or gay, black or white or brown, urban or rural, pious or atheist, American-born or foreign-born, able-bodied or living with a disability. Every person in this country should have the same basic rights. Since our founding, we've been working hard to make sure no one takes them away.

If you have ideas of new initiatives you would like us to pursue or experiences from other campuses that you think would benefit W&M, please let us know.  If there is an issue you are passionate about, this is your way to get involved.

Contact us at:  aclu.wmlaw@gmail.com or acluwmlaw@wm.edu

Executive Board:

President: Amanda Hutchison

Vice President: Archie Hogan

Treasurer: Erika Friedlander

Secretary: Melissa Charnes

Public Relations Chair: Amelia Vance

You can be a member of the National ACLU too.

National ACLU: http://www.aclu.org/

Virginia ACLU: http://www.acluva.org/

“So long as we have enough people in this country willing to fight for their rights, we’ll be called a democracy.” – ACLU Founder Roger Baldwin