News & Commentary

With an election right around the corner, we’re reflecting on some of the victories for democracy that have been a part of the ACLU’s 50 years of defending freedom in Nebraska. Fr

“Lesbian woman needs roommate to share large four bedroom house with fireplace”

One evening in 1983, Sabrina Fields and a friend were walking in downtown Omaha. This shouldn’t be a crime. But an Omaha police officer decided that their behavior violated Omaha’s loitering and prowling ordinance. Thankfully, Sabrina knew her rights and fought her ticket in court.

In 2006, the Nebraska Public Service Commission listened to ACLU of Nebraska lawyers argue against phone companies like AT&T and Verizon, who violated state law by cooperating with the National Security Agency’s wiretapping and phone spying programs. That year, ACLU Nationwide took action against NSA snooping via phone companies.

In the ACLU of Nebraska's second year, we looked into a situation at Westside High School in Omaha involving three students who were asked to stay home until they cut their hair.

In 1982, Banned Books Week became a national celebration. Before, state governments and local school districts had made attempts to ban several books.

On November 8th, or before then if you vote-by-mail, Nebraskans who have a felony conviction and waited for two years will be able to vote.

Father, Grandfather, Protector, Best Friend, and Hero, John Shelor. My father was only 57 years old when he was diagnosed with HIV and dementia. It is hard for any daughter to become a caretaker for her dad. The fact that I had to deal with discrimination alongside health care issues is something no family should have to face.

Every year, speakers are invited to public schools around Nebraska to talk about subjects like rejecting drugs and alcohol. In 2010, many parents contacted the ACLU with concerns that some of the speakers included specific religious messages to the captive audience of K-12 students. One of those speakers was then-assistant Husker football coach Ron Brown. ACLU warned every school district they could not host religious presentations during school hours. Coach Brown said he was not willing to stop promoting his religion.  “…public school children are being required