The American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri (ACLU-EM) is a non-partisan, not-for-profit, membership organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of civil liberties in eastern Missouri. Located in St. Louis, ACLU-EM is an affiliate of the national ACLU.
What We Do
The ACLU-EM defends civil liberties and the principles of equality and justice in eastern Missouri through its Litigation, Legislative and Public Education Programs. The ACLU was founded in 1920 as the first public interest law firm of its kind, and is recognized as the country's foremost advocate of individual rights.
The Bill of Rights, along with our state and federal laws, protects certain fundamental rights of individuals against the power of the government and will of the majority. Rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights include:
First Amendment Rights
These include freedom of speech, association and assembly, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Equal Protection Of The Law
The right to equal treatment regardless of race, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, or other such classifications. These rights apply to the voting booth, the classroom, the workplace and the courts.
Due Process Of The Law
The right to be treated fairly when facing criminal charges or other serious accusations that can result in such penalties as loss of employment, exclusion from school, denial of housing, or cut-off of benefits.
The Right To Privacy
The right to a guaranteed zone of personal privacy and autonomy which should not be penetrated by the government or other institutions, like employers, with substantial influence over an individual's rights.
Expanding Those Protections
Although some segments of our population have traditionally been denied these rights, the ACLU works to extend protection to racial minorities, sexual minorities, mental patients, prisoners, soldiers, Native Americans, disabled people, and children in the custody of the state.
How We Work
The ACLU-EM is just one affiliate in a 50-state network of ACLU offices coordinated by a national office in New York and aided by a legislative office in Washington that lobbies Congress. As an affiliate, the ACLU-EM operates on an autonomous basis, making its own decisions about which cases to take and which issues to emphasize, in collaboration with the pursuit of common national organization goals.
The ACLU assists thousands of people each year in asserting their rights. This assistance can include referrals to other organizations that might be able to help and direct representation to a small number of clients each year. The latter cases are selected for their potential to set precedents for the preservation or advancement of civil liberties. Our Legal Department reviews all of the complaints received each week, looking for issues the ACLU may be able to help with.
The ACLU-EM does not have attorneys on staff to handle cases, instead relying on the services of volunteer attorneys, from private practices all over the state, who donate their time to ACLU-EM cases. As such, we are not able to dispense general legal advice.
If you believe your civil liberties have been violated, please proceed to our Complaints instructions.
The ACLU, a nonprofit organization, is supported by annual dues and contributions from its members, plus grants from private foundations and individuals. We do not receive government funding. For more information on supporting the ACLU go to our Support the ACLU page.
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