The ACLU was originally created in 1920 by Roger Baldwin, Crystal Eastman, and Albert DeSilver. Since then it has been involved in many important cases such as the Scopes Trial, Brown vs. Board of Education, and Roe vs. Wade. As a local caucus we of course are not involved in legal disputes but we still play an important part in lobbying and protesting violations of civil liberties. We are able to petition, inform, and carry on dialogue with the local community so that everybody knows the facts. Below is a list of our views: Free Speech: Aside from liable slander all free speech is protected by the constitution regardless of what views you express. Censorship of anyone is abhorrent. Lesbian and Gay Rights: Lesbians and Gays are U.S. citizens and are entitled to all rights this status gives them. It is unconstitutional to discriminate based on sexual orientation. The ACLU also supports the right of homosexuals to marry. The Death Penalty: The death penalty is a highly flawed and inhumane system. Innocent people, minors, and the mentally disabled are some of the groups that have been executed. The system is also highly discriminatory with blacks and homosexuals being executed at a higher rate. The ACLU supports a moratorium on executions. Religious Freedom: The first amendment grants all people to worship as they chose and to be free from religious oppression. It is therefore necessary to maintain a separation of church and state. Racial Equality: All people are equal under the law. It is therefore necessary to have nondiscrimination policies and affirmative action policies to protect people in discriminatory situations. Woman's Rights: All people are equal under the law. Nondiscrimination policy and affirmative action policy however may be needed to maintain equality. Women also have the right to decide what happens to their body, therefore they have the right to chose to abort an unwanted pregnancy. For more in depth information on the ACLU views on these issues and others please visit the national web site .