History

The American Civil Liberties Union

Founded in 1920 as a response to the Palmer Raids, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization that seeks to defend the principles and freedoms embodied in the Bill of Rights. To accomplish this goal, the ACLU advocates for civil liberties in courts, legislatures, and communities all over the United States at both the federal and state level. As a result of its dedication, there is no non-governmental organization that has more frequently argued in front of the Supreme Court of the United States than the ACLU.

This high-profile exposure of the ACLU has given many people the impression that the ACLU is one large, national organization. In reality though, the ACLU is a network of state affiliates associated with a national office. There is an ACLU affiliate in every state and even one in Puerto Rico! This structure has allowed the ACLU to vigilantly and efficiently monitor civil liberty issues at all levels of government.

For more information about what the ACLU has accomplished nationally, check out the ACLU's 100 Greatest Hits, which details the 100 greatest court victories in the ACLU's history.

For information about the ACLU of Georgia's work see our Annual Reports

2013 Annual Report

THE ACLU OF GEORGIA

The ACLU of Georgia is one of the 52 affiliates of the ACLU, and we currently have close to 5,000 card-carrying members and donors. We are located on the perimeter of Atlanta and work throughout the state. Structurally, we are comprised of two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia, and the ACLU Foundation of Georgia. Both are statewide organizations with the same overall mission that share office space and employees.

• The ACLU of Georgia is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation. This is where membership dues go to and is why they are not tax-deductible. This arm of our organization funds and organizes our lobbying activities, which are legally prohibited from being supported by tax-deductible funds.
• The ACLU Foundation of Georgia is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Donations and gifts to our foundation are tax-deductible and fund our litigation, public education, and other miscellaneous efforts.

Our Mission:

The purpose of this Association shall be to advance the cause of civil liberties in Georgia, with emphasis on the rights of free speech, free press, free assembly, freedom of religion, due process of law and to take all legitimate action in the furtherance of such purposes without political partisanship.