ACLU turns down $1.15 million in funding

[Khephra]

ACLU turns down $1.15 million in funding

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK -- The American Civil Liberties Union has turned down $1.15 million in funding from the Ford and Rockefeller foundations, saying new anti-terrorism restrictions demanded by the institutions make it unable to accept their funds.

In a statement on the organization's Web site, ACLU executive director Anthony Romero said ambiguous language in the grants could foster impediments to free speech and includes terms like "bigotry" whose meanings are too vague to support in any funding agreements.

The ACLU's move is an apparent reaction to new restrictive language by both foundations. The Ford Foundation now bars recipients of its funds from engaging in any activity that "promotes violence, terrorism, bigotry, or the destruction of any state."

The Rockefeller Foundation's provisions state that recipients of its funds may not "directly or indirectly engage in, promote, or support other organizations or individuals who engage in or promote terrorist activity."

Romero said such vague grant language "could have a chilling effect" on civil liberties. "The ACLU cannot effectively defend the rights of all Americans if we do not stand up for those same rights ourselves," he said.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp?category=1110&slug=ACLU%20Funding

[Fluffdaddy]

1. The ACLU cannot effectively defend the rights of all Americans if.........

we do not stand up for those same rights ourselves,"

Well siad................I love the ACLU

[mom cat]

2. Well done! ACLU rocks!

:toast::bounce::bounce::toast::kick:

[TaleWgnDg]

3. g'bless the ACLU and all the lawyers who give of their time, free,

tis a great organization! can you imagine giving up a gift of One Million, One Hundred Fifty Thousand ($1,150,000.00) Dollars?




. . . . . . . .

[Democat]

4. Defending free speech means protecting "unpopular speech"

Soon we will be told by the right wing that free speech really means only speech that doesn't offend the goverment.

[Dhalgren]

5. Well, I have to get a check in the mail today!

It won't be 1.15 million dollars, but after this heroic stand I have to send them what I can. I am damned proud of the ACLU!

[DustMolecule]

6. Kudos to the ACLU !

This is the way 'things' SHOULD be....(i.e., some things are not 'For Sale').

[BlueNomad]

7. thank God somebody's

still got a code of honor...

[DustMolecule]

8. Kick for the evening crowd n/t

[Demonaut]

9. I wonder if Rush Limpballs will comment on this, afterall the ACLU

is helping his fat ass