The American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont [ACLU VT]

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The American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont is freedom's watchdog, working in the courts, legislatures, and communities to defend individual rights and personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Learn How To Protect Your Privacy Online!

When you learn, share, shop, and connect online, a lot happens behind the scenes that companies and the government don't want you to know. The sites that you visit can collect detailed information about you -- your interests, politics, relationships, and more. This information can be shared, sold, or handed over to the government -- without a warrant.

Look behind the curtain to see what's really happening to your personal info. See what you can do right now to take back control and keep details about your private life from being used and abused.

Student Rights Handbook -- Know Your Rights!

"Can they do that?" It's a question we get asked all the time from students in Vermont public schools. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the 1969 Tinker vs. Des Moines case that students "don't shed their constitutional rights" at the schoolhouse gate.

Our Student Rights Handbook touches on everything from dress codes to censorship, searches to discipline. Learn about your rights at school -- and exercise them.

Multimedia Corner

Celebrating Civil Liberties Heroes

It took 10 years, but Marily Hackett finally did it. With the ACLU-VT's help, she got her town to stop violating the Vermont Constitution's protection against compelled worship. Watch and listen to her story.

ACLU of Vermont - Marilyn Hackett from VCAM Vermont on Vimeo.

Other recent ACLU videos (all but "Lesbian Couple" are on YouTube*):

From our 2010 annual meeting:

Data Aggregation and Privacy

From our 2009 annual meeting:

Who Will Hold Government Accountable When There Are No More Newspapers?

From our 2009 civil liberties conference on First Amendment rights:

Thought And Expression In a Changing World

*Please note that by playing this or some of the other clips noted on this page, YouTube will place a long-term cookie on your computer. Please see YouTube’s privacy statement on their Web site to learn more. You can also go directly to YouTube to view the videos.
**This video is hosted on the National ACLU Web site. To view the National ACLU’s privacy statement, click here.

Civil Liberties Blog

Supreme Court Takes Pass on Vt. Warrant Case

May 21, 2013

The United States Supreme Court has declined to hear prosecutors’ appeal of a 2012 Vermont ruling clarifying that judges may limit search warrants to protect privacy. We’re pleased that the state supreme court’s ruling will stand.
Read the rest of this entry »

All Civil Liberties Blog posts»

Legislative Report

Items of Interest

Smart Meters -- What's The Buzz?

Vermont utilities are starting to roll out new "smart meters" as part of the statewide effort to build a "smart grid." The ACLU has privacy concerns, other groups have health concerns. Various forums --

many organized by citizen groups -- are being held in areas where meters are being installed. Get up to speed -- read more about smart meters.

Dissent Is Patriotic

Dissent is a form of patriotism. Free and open discourse is the lifeblood in a democracy. As long as the ACLU has existed, we've been defending the rights of demonstrators to speak their minds and gather to express their views. Know your rights.

Want to know what the government knows about you?

File a FOIA.

Here's how.

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