There are 16 article(s) tagged ACLU of Tennessee:

• February 2025

  • Bartlett votes down mosque plan, citing traffic concerns

    Bartlett officials have rejected plans for a mosque near a five-way intersection despite claims from the ACLU that the city could face a legal challenge.

    By Michael Waddell February 13, 2025

• October 2023

  • OUTMemphis, other groups seek to overturn aggravated prostitution law

    Several groups, including the local nonprofit, filed a federal lawsuit over Tennessee’s aggravated prostitution statute, alleging the law is unconstitutional and violates the Americans with Disabilities Act.

    By Aarron Fleming October 24, 2023

• May 2021

  • Jail’s low vaccination rate fuels request for modified lawsuit settlement

    Fewer than 10% of detainees at 201 Poplar have been vaccinated and criminal justice advocates have filed a motion asking the court to get the Sheriff’s Office to do more to implement a vaccination program — one of the terms agreed upon in a lawsuit settlement agreement. 

    By Yolanda Jones May 23, 2021

• March 2021

  • Legislative efforts seek to disconnect voting rights, child support

    Efforts are afoot to remove or ease a Tennessee requirement that child support payments be current in order to vote. 

    By Ian Round March 27, 2021

• February 2021

  • Bill would allow business owners to vote where they own business

    Business owners would be able to vote in elections where the business property is located, even if the owner doesn’t live in the same place as the business, under a bill being considered by the Tennessee General Assembly.

    By Ian Round February 24, 2021

• July 2020

  • Chancellor denies push for state to let first-timers vote by mail

    The ACLU is asking a Davidson County chancellor to hold the state of Tennessee in contempt of court for violating an absentee ballot order by forcing first-time voters to cast ballots in person.

    By Sam Stockard July 14, 2020

• June 2020

  • Inspection of jail finds multiple issues, according to report

    An independent inspection of the jail at 201 Poplar was ordered by the court in an ongoing lawsuit to get medically vulnerable inmates released from the jail. 

    By Yolanda Jones June 30, 2020

  • Court monitor, social media expert testify on first day of consent decree hearing

    The City of Memphis is seeking to modify the 1978 consent decree dealing governing police surveillance activities. A hearing on the request began Wednesday, June 17. 

    By Yolanda Jones June 17, 2020

  • ACLU threatens second lawsuit against Shelby County Sheriff’s Office

    In a demand letter to Sheriff Floyd Bonner, the ACLU and others allege that unsanitary conditions and inadequate preventative measures are jeopardizing the health of detainees in the jail.

    By Marc Perrusquia June 08, 2020

• May 2020

  • Third legal challenge seeks to waive absentee voting requirements

    The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Tennessee, and Dechert LLP filed a lawsuit Friday, May 15, seeking to make absentee voting available to all eligible Tennessee voters during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    By Sam Stockard May 15, 2020

  • Mediation ordered in consent decree modification case

    Mediation is getting underway on a consent decree modification case between the city and the American Civil Liberties Union. The city wants to modify a 41-year-old consent decree governing police activities.

    By Yolanda Jones May 04, 2020

• November 2019

  • Consent decree hurting police ability to fight crime, Strickland says

    Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland announced Friday that the city is holding a community meeting Nov. 7 to gain public input on the 40-year-old police consent decree.

    By Yolanda Jones November 01, 2019

• July 2019

  • Activists want community involved after public forum on MPD spy case

    Community activists say they still feel they're being watched and harassed by law enforcement, while a monitoring team says it is trying to ensure Memphis police comply with court-ordered reforms.

    By Yolanda Jones July 14, 2019

• January 2019

  • Monitoring team overseeing MPD surveillance court case to launch website

    A new website will give the public a chance to weigh in on the city's progress in meeting court-ordered reforms resulting from its violation of the 1978 consent decree over political surveillance.

    By Yolanda Jones January 08, 2019

• December 2018

  • City, ACLU try to work out changes on surveillance consent decree

    Both sides in federal lawsuit over Memphis police surveillance request a year to work out differences outside of court ruling.

    By Yolanda Jones December 22, 2018

• November 2018

  • ACLU honors Turner for life of civil rights work

    Former state Rep. Johnnie Turner didn’t participate in Memphis sit-ins during the 1960s in search of glory. Nor did she hear the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or ride the Memphis city buses fearing death during the 1960s thinking she would be recognized someday at a Nashville gala.

    By Sam Stockard November 30, 2018