Monday, April 2, 2012

Fixing our broken eavesdropping law

From the ACLU

Protect First Amendment Rights

Dear ACLU Supporter,
The drumbeat for reform has been relentless. The momentum is building. In recent months, a number of developments have come together to create conditions for fixing our state’s broken eavesdropping law – specifically the provision that allows for civilians to be arrested and prosecuted (for a felony) if they audio record a police officer doing his or her duty in a public place.

Tell your state representative: No one should be arrested for audio recording a police officer in public.

The ACLU of Illinois is challenging this law in federal court because it violates our First Amendment rights to speech and petition and because it makes Illinois an outlier among other states. In recent months, two Illinois state courts have ruled this part of the eavesdropping law is unconstitutional. Now, the Illinois House is set to consider House Bill 3944, sponsored by State Representative Elaine Nekritz, to permit the audio recording of police officers engaged in their public duties in a public place. The bill passed out of Committee in February and now is poised to be voted on by the full House at any time!

We need to keep up the pressure to change this law: Contact your state representative today.

Sincerely,

Allie Carter
Allie Carter Signature
Colleen Connell
Executive Director
ACLU of Illinois
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