Freedom of Expression and Religion
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution creates a bedrock for American values, guaranteeing freedom of expression and assembly, a free press, and our freedom to practice our faith or no faith at all. Our work defending protected speech and religious freedom in Nebraska has taken us to communities large and small. We firmly believe that constitutional rights must apply to even the most unpopular groups if they're going to be preserved for everyone.
What you need to know
3 of 4
According to Pew Research Center, about three out of every four Nebraskans identify as religious. Common faiths include Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Unitarian Universalism, Judaism, Hinduism and traditional Native religions.
125
Omaha Police arrested 125 protesters during one of the 2020 George Floyd protests. Police actions gave rise to our ProBlac v City of Omaha lawsuit, which ended successfully with a settlement.
2025
As of July 2025, school dress codes are required to better respect students' right to religious attire and characteristics associated with religion. State law names that this includes, but is not limited to, items such as burkas, hijabs and tribal regalia.
As enshrined in the First Amendment, religious freedom includes two complementary protections: the right to religious belief and expression and a guarantee that the government neither prefers religion over non-religion nor favors particular faiths over others. These dual protections work hand in hand, allowing religious liberty to thrive and safeguarding both religion and government from the undue influences of the other. In Lincoln, we have taken the case of a 77 year old Nebraska veteran and grandfather who was criminally cited for peacefully expressing his religious view in the public square.
Freedom of speech, the press, association, assembly, and petition: This set of guarantees, protected by the First Amendment, comprises what we refer to as freedom of expression. It is the foundation of a vibrant democracy, and without it, other fundamental rights, like the right to vote, would wither away. In greater Nebraska we have successfully defended the right of citizens who were threatened with prosecution for publicly criticizing local government officials.
Speech on campus has often been the epicenter of modern conversations on the First Amendment. Nebraska's students have the right to speak their mind on social media and to run school newspapers free of undue censorship. We monitor 151 public school districts in Nebraska for violations of free speech.
Learn more about the ACLU's work to defend campus speech
Read ACLU testimony on campus speech legislation
The Latest
ACLU Warns Elected Officials, Government Agencies, Against Blocking Members of Public on Social Media
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