AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is our nation's guardian of liberty, working daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States.

Since our founding in 1920, the nonprofit, nonpartisan ACLU has grown from a roomful of civil liberties activists to an organization of over 500, 000 members and supporters, with offices in almost every state

The ACLU of Florida, with headquarters in Miami, is the local affiliate of the national organization. Chartered in 1965, the ACLU of Florida operates with the help of 40 staff members and 18 volunteer-run chapters across the state. The organization's oldest chapter the Greater Miami Chapter of the ACLU of Florida was founded in 1955. The newest chapters in Collier and Bay Counties were chartered in May 2007.

The ACLU of Florida has an office in Tallahassee where our Legislative Staff Counsel works to ensure Florida lawmakers do not pass anti-civil liberties bills that violate the rights of all Floridians. Other regional offices are located in: Jacksonville, Melbourne, Orlando, Pensacola and Tampa.

With more than 30, 000 members and supporters across Florida, the ACLU is funded entirely with private donations, foundation grants, court-awarded legal fees and membership dues. We do not receive any government funding.