First Amendment Rights

Freedom of speech, of the press, of association, of assembly and petition -- this set of guarantees, protected by the First Amendment, comprises what we refer to as freedom of expression.

First Amendment Rights

What you need to know

2005

We won the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District case, that ruled teaching Intelligent Design Creationism as an alternative to evolution in public schools was unconstitutional.

Freedom of speech, of the press, of association, of assembly and petition -- this set of guarantees, protected by the First Amendment, comprises what we refer to as freedom of expression.

The ACLU works to make sure that all speech - even messages we vehemently disagree with - has a chance to be heard. We protect the right to leaflet and demonstrate on government property, sidewalks, and parks throughout the state. We oppose spying by federal and local agencies on groups and individuals based on their lawful political and religious beliefs, practices, and associations.

The Latest

Resource
Science

Intelligent Design Challenge

In December of 2005, a federal court in Pennsylvania issued a ruling in Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District that an effort to teach so-called Intelligent Design Creationism as an alternative to evolution in public schools was an unconstitutional endorsement of religion.
Resource
Religious Liberty

Religious Liberty

Americans enjoy a degree of religious freedom unknown in most of the rest of the world.
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Open Government

Open Government

The courts have recognized that the public’s right to know what the government is doing is protected by the First Amendment.
Press Release
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Five UPenn-affiliated Groups and Civil Liberties Attorneys Move to Join Lawsuit Opposing EEOC’s Demand for Jewish List

The ACLU of Pennsylvania, Democracy Defenders Fund, and Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin and Schiller filed a motion to intervene in EEOC v. The University of Pennsylvania on behalf of five organizations affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania.
Issue Areas: First Amendment Rights, Privacy & Security
Court Cases: EEOC v. University of Pennsylvania
Court Case
Jul 15, 2025

Murray v. Upper Pottsgrove Township

The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania and Catherine M. Harper of Timoney Knox, LLP filed a lawsuit against Upper Pottsgrove Township on behalf of Matthew Murray, a township resident who was advocating against the development of a piece of permanently protected public land. Mr. Murray filed a number of Right To Know requests to obtain township records regarding the development of the land. Using those records as evidence, Mr. Murray then successfully sued the township alleging that its development plan was in violation of the Pennsylvania Open Space Act. In retaliation, the township sued Mr. Murray in the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, asking the court to issue an injunction to prevent Mr. Murray from filing additional Right To Know requests.That request was denied by the court and the township’s case was dismissed. The ACLU-PA’s lawsuit against the township draws on Pennsylvania’s 2024 law allowing a party to assert immunity or seek legal fees against another party for filing a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation or “SLAPP” litigation as a means to silence or intimidate critics. The lawsuit asks Upper Pottsgrove Township to reimburse Mr. Murray for the legal fees he incurred defending himself against the township’s meritless litigation.
Court Case
Aug 28, 2025

Students for Justice in Palestine at Pitt v. University of Pittsburgh

Court Case
Nov 20, 2024

Souderton Area For All v. Souderton Area School District

The ACLU of Pennsylvania filed a lawsuit against the Souderton Area School District regarding the district's ban of two parents and one former student from school property as retaliation for criticisms leveled at a school board member who posted lewd comments about VP Kamala Harris online.
Court Case
Aug 15, 2024

Re Student Free Speech at Temple University

The ACLU of Pennsylvania is representing two Temple University students who are facing disciplinary action from the university for their participation in a demonstration opposing Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands and its military assault in Gaza.