the American Civil Liberties Union
/ði əˌmerɪkən sɪvl ˈlɪbətiz juːniən/
/ði əˌmerɪkən sɪvl ˈlɪbərtiz juːniən/
(abbreviation the ACLU)
- a US organization, founded in 1920, that defends the rights of people under the US Constitution. It was involved in the legal case in 1954 that ended the system of separate schools for African Americans. The ACLU has sometimes been criticized for defending freedoms for everyone, as in 1978 when it supported the right of the Nazi Party in America to march. More recently it has opposed the introduction of prayers in public schools and, since September 11, has fought against a reduction of civil rights in times of national emergency.
美国公民自由联盟：成立于1920年的美国组织，根据美国宪法捍卫人民的权利。它参与了1954年的法律诉讼，该诉讼终止了针对非洲裔美国人的单独学校制。有时，美国公民自由联盟（ACLU）曾因捍卫所有人的自由而受到批评，例如1978年，它支持美国纳粹党的进军权利。最近，它反对在公立学校中进行祈祷，并且自9月11日以来，一直反对在国家紧急状态下减少公民权利。