The ACLU was founded to defend and secure these rights and to extend them to people who have been excluded from their protection.



Our work can be categorized as follows:

First Amendment – the rights of free speech, free association, and assembly, freedom of the press and religious freedom, including the strict separation of church and state.



Equal Protection – The right not to be discriminated against on the basis of certain classifications, such as race, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, etc.



Due Process– The right to be treated fairly, including fair procedures when facing accusations of criminal conduct or other serious accusations that can lead to results like loss of employment, exclusion from school, denial of housing, cut-off of certain benefits or various punitive measures taken by the government.



Privacy – the right to a zone of personal privacy and autonomy.