Our History

Defying Florida’s Red Scare (1956)
During the Cold War, Florida politicians launched a crusade to root out “subversives,” using fear of communism as a pretext to attack integrationists, academics, civil rights leaders, and LGBTQ+ Floridians. The infamous “Johns Committee” relied on intimidation and secret interrogations to silence dissent. In this climate, the Florida Civil Liberties Union—what would become the ACLU of Florida—was born to defend free expression and protect people targeted for their identities and beliefs.

Challenging School Prayer and Religious Coercion (1959)
Miami parent Harlow Chamberlin, with ACLU support, sued the Dade County School Board to challenge mandatory Bible readings and school-led prayer. In 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the practice—ensuring public schools remained places of learning, not religious coercion.

Resisting Disenfranchisement and Intimidation (1959)
The 1950s in Florida were marked by violence aimed at silencing Black voters. That year, Rev. Ben Wyland of the Florida Council for Racial Cooperation uncovered that in Gadsden County nearly 11,000 Black residents of voting age yielded only five registered voters. Testimony from clergy like Rev. Dee Hawkins revealed threats faced by those who tried to register. The ACLU helped shine a national spotlight on these injustices, fueling momentum for the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Rev. Theodore Gibson’s Stand for the NAACP (1959)
Rev. Theodore Gibson, president of Miami’s NAACP branch, was ordered to turn over membership lists meant to intimidate activists. He refused, was jailed and fined, and appealed with ACLU support. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned his conviction, affirming that government fishing expeditions into private associations violated the Constitution. Gibson went on to serve on the Miami City Commission, continuing his fight for equality.

Challenging Segregation at the Shell City Lunch Counter (1960)
As sit-ins spread across the South, Black and white protestors in Miami challenged segregation at Shell City. Arrested for refusing to leave, they took their case to the U.S. Supreme Court, which in 1964 overturned their convictions and struck down state-backed segregation. The ruling came just weeks before passage of the Civil Rights Act.

Protecting the Right to Counsel: Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
When Clarence Gideon was denied a lawyer in his Florida trial, he was convicted and imprisoned. With ACLU support, his handwritten appeal reached the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1963, the Court ruled the right to counsel fundamental to a fair trial, ensuring that justice would not be reserved for the wealthy. Retrial with a lawyer led to Gideon’s acquittal.

Protecting Haitian Refugees (1980)
We filed a class action suit after the INS revoked work authorization for Haitian refugees awaiting asylum, challenging the violation of treaty rights and due process. This fight affirmed that immigrants deserve dignity and protection under the law.

Standing Up for Students and Families (1981–1985)
The ACLU successfully challenged Florida’s law requiring minors to obtain parental consent for abortions (1981), protecting young people’s autonomy. In 1985, we secured justice for Todd Shuttleworth, a Broward County employee fired because of his AIDS diagnosis—one of the nation’s first workplace discrimination cases of its kind.

Defending Religious Freedom (1984)
When Rev. John Mellish was jailed for refusing to break the confidentiality of confession, we defended him—affirming that clergy cannot be forced by the state to violate their sacred duties. The case helped spur new protections for religious counseling in Florida.

Defending Free Expression and Minority Faiths (1987)
We fought Hialeah’s attempt to ban animal sacrifice in the Santería faith. In 1993, the Supreme Court unanimously struck down the ordinances, affirming that minority religions are entitled to the same constitutional protections as any other faith.

Protecting the Homeless in Miami (1988)
For years, Miami police conducted “sweeps” arresting unhoused people during public events. In Pottinger v. City of Miami, we won a landmark ruling declaring these arrests unconstitutional and creating safe zones. The case reshaped how cities nationwide address homelessness.

Defending Artistic Expression: 2 Live Crew (1990–1992)
When Broward Sheriff Nick Navarro labeled 2 Live Crew’s album As Nasty As They Wanna Be obscene, we defended their right to free expression. A record store owner was arrested for selling the album, but the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the obscenity ruling, affirming that art—even controversial art—is protected under the First Amendment.

Challenging School Prayer and Religious Coercion (1990s)
We fought persistent attempts to impose prayer and religious instruction in Florida public schools, including challenges to sectarian graduation ceremonies and Bible-based curricula. These cases reaffirmed the separation of church and state in education.

Protecting Parents and Families (1996–1998)
We defended parental rights against intrusive state laws, from forced blood transfusions to unconstitutional “grandparent visitation” laws. In 1998, we helped strike down Florida’s misleadingly named “partial birth abortion” ban, ensuring reproductive freedom was protected.

Fighting Discrimination and Protecting Workers (1995–1999)
We challenged HIV/AIDS discrimination, suspicionless drug testing, and the unlawful targeting of day laborers across Miami-Dade. Settlements secured millions in damages and set precedent that workers—particularly immigrants and people of color—cannot be stripped of their dignity or rights.

Defending the Vulnerable (1990s)
From protecting homeless Miamians against unlawful arrests, to defending people with mental health disabilities from forced institutionalization, our work throughout the 1990s affirmed that civil rights must extend to every community, especially the most marginalized.

Fighting Voter Suppression in the Wake of Bush v. Gore (2000s)
After the chaos of the 2000 presidential election, we launched the Florida Equal Voting Rights Project to protect voters from disenfranchisement. We challenged broken election systems, fought racial profiling in policing that bled into voting access, and pressed for fairer rules so every Floridian could cast a ballot with confidence.

Advancing Privacy in Healthcare: The Terri Schiavo Case (2003–2005)
We stood against political interference in Terri Schiavo’s end-of-life case, where lawmakers tried to override her expressed wishes. By challenging state laws that forced medical decisions against families’ choices, we helped ensure that dignity and privacy remain protected in deeply personal medical matters.

Protecting LGBTQ+ Students and Families (2006–2008)
We defended students’ rights to form Gay-Straight Alliances and wear symbols of support for LGBTQ+ peers in Florida schools, striking down discriminatory bans. At the same time, we fought to end the state’s cruel ban on adoption by gay and lesbian Floridians, ultimately securing a ruling that declared it unconstitutional in 2010.

Safeguarding Free Speech in the Digital Age (2009)
As new technologies reshaped communication, we fought to ensure that free expression kept pace. In Evans v. Bayer, we successfully defended a high school student suspended for creating a Facebook page criticizing her teacher—a landmark ruling affirming that constitutional rights extend into the digital space.

Pushing Back Against Government Overreach (2000s)
From stopping suspicionless pat-downs at stadiums, to defending residents targeted for political speech, we kept government power in check. We also challenged surveillance and censorship, underscoring that liberty depends on both safety and freedom.

Ending Florida’s LGBTQ+ Adoption Ban (2010)
After more than three decades of injustice, we successfully struck down Florida’s ban on adoption by gay and lesbian parents. This victory meant thousands of children in foster care could finally find permanent homes, and LGBTQ+ families could embrace their right to love and belong.

Fighting Gerrymandering: The Fair Districts Amendments (2010–2012)
Floridians voted overwhelmingly for Amendments 5 and 6, writing fairness into the state constitution for the first time. When politicians tried to dismantle these reforms through lawsuits and legislative delays, we held the line—winning in court and preserving one of the strongest anti-gerrymandering measures in the nation.

Defending Voting Rights Against Suppression (2011–2019)
When Governor Rick Scott and later legislatures pushed voter suppression laws, we fought back in court—challenging new restrictions designed to keep Floridians from the ballot box. In case after case, we defended access to the vote and pushed back against modern-day poll taxes.

Restoring Second Chances: Amendment 4 (2018)
In one of the largest expansions of democracy since the Civil Rights Movement, nearly 65% of Florida voters passed Amendment 4, restoring voting rights to most returning citizens who had completed their sentences. The victory ended a Jim Crow–era disenfranchisement system and returned more than a million Floridians to the promise of democracy.

Challenging Classroom Censorship: Pernell v. Lamb (2022)
In 2022, Florida lawmakers passed the “Stop W.O.K.E. Act,” censoring professors and students from openly teaching or discussing issues of race and gender. We challenged the law as unconstitutional, with plaintiffs like Professor LeRoy Pernell warning: “This thought-level policing is inconsistent with a free nation and unacceptable.” A federal court blocked the law, keeping the door open for academic freedom while the case proceeds.

Challenging Florida’s 15-Week Abortion Ban: Planned Parenthood v. State of Florida (2022)
That same year, Florida passed HB 5, banning most abortions after 15 weeks. Health care providers, represented by the ACLU and partners, sued—arguing it violated Florida’s constitutional right to privacy. Though temporarily blocked by a trial court, the ban ultimately went into effect as the state appealed. The case continues, shaping the future of reproductive freedom in Florida.

Protecting Access to Counsel in Detention: Mejia Encarnacion v. Baker County Sheriff’s Office (2022)
Immigrants detained at Baker County faced retaliation for speaking out about abuse, including being denied access to lawyers. We sued the Sheriff’s Office, and a court allowed First Amendment claims to move forward—marking progress in exposing systemic mistreatment.

Challenging Racial Gerrymandering Across Florida (2022–2025)

From Jacksonville to Miami to Daytona Beach, Floridians have faced unfair district maps designed to dilute Black voting power or protect incumbents. In 2022, we joined civil rights partners in NAACP v. City of Jacksonville, challenging the city’s racially gerrymandered plan; by 2023, a court struck it down. That same year, residents and groups in GRACE, Inc. v. City of Miami won a ruling blocking Miami’s unconstitutional map. In 2025, following our lawsuit in Sakhnovsky v. City of Daytona Beach, the city repealed a redistricting plan drawn around incumbents’ addresses. Together, these victories reaffirm a core principle: voters choose their representatives—not the other way around.

Protecting Charitable Bail Funds: Tallahassee Bail Fund v. Marshall (2022)
We represented the Tallahassee Bail Fund in challenging a Florida law that seizes charitable funds used to bail people out of jail. The suit argues the state is punishing organizations for helping people access their freedom before trial, violating constitutional rights.

Defending Student Free Speech: Students for Justice in Palestine v. Rodrigues (2023)
When Florida’s university chancellor ordered state schools to deactivate Students for Justice in Palestine, we stood with students at the University of Florida, challenging the move as a violation of free speech and association. The lawsuit defends the principle that students do not lose their First Amendment rights on campus.

Protecting Political Speech for Attorneys: Florida Bar v. Girley (2024)
The ACLU filed amicus briefs for attorneys Jerry and Brooke Girley, who faced suspension after criticizing a judge in a racial discrimination case. We argued their words were protected political speech under the First Amendment. The case is pending before the Florida Supreme Court.

Fighting for Transgender Rights in Prison: Keohane v. Dixon (2024)
We filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of Reiyn Keohane and other transgender women denied gender-affirming care by the Florida Department of Corrections. The suit challenges cruel policies that violate the Eighth Amendment and force women to endure discriminatory grooming standards.

Challenging State Attacks on Amendment 4 (2024)

Ahead of the 2024 ballot, Florida officials tried to derail Amendment 4—the initiative to protect abortion rights—by rewriting its financial impact statement, spreading false claims, and even attempting to censor a campaign ad featuring Caroline, a Tampa woman denied an abortion despite a terminal condition. We went to court on all fronts, blocking the misleading ballot language, halting the misinformation campaign, and stopping the censorship. As one federal judge put it: “To keep it simple for the State of Florida: it’s the First Amendment, stupid.”

Exposing Abuse at Baker County Detention Center (2025)
Detainees at Baker County described horrific conditions, including denial of medical care, solitary confinement, and physical abuse. Survivors like Ana, a trafficking victim punished for asking for menstrual products, shared their stories. We sued, demanding accountability and closure of the facility.

Challenging Academic Censorship: Austin v. Lamb (2025)
We filed a lawsuit against Florida’s SB 266, which bans funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and imposes viewpoint-based restrictions on education. The case defends academic freedom and the First Amendment rights of Florida students and educators.

Blocking Florida’s Anti-Immigrant Law SB 4C (2025)
We sued to block SB 4C, a sweeping law that criminalizes transporting undocumented immigrants into Florida. A federal court halted enforcement, affirming that immigration is a federal matter and that states cannot trample due process through fear and prejudice.

Ensuring DeSantis Upholds Duty to Call Elections (2025)
For the third time, we sued Governor DeSantis after he delayed calling special elections, leaving communities without representation. “From Jeb Bush to Rick Scott, past governors moved quickly,” said ACLU attorney Nicholas Warren. “DeSantis’s refusal is both troubling and illegal.”