ACLU of Florida Panhandle Chapter

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ACLU of Florida Panhandle Chapter

ACLUlogo.png

Established 1988
2000
Membership around 800
Regional director Susan Watson
Staff Benjamin Stevenson, attorney
Key people Linda Armacost, chairperson
Website aclufl.org/panhandle

The ACLU of Florida Panhandle Chapter is the local branch of the American Civil Liberties Union. The Panhandle and Bay County Chapters together make up the ACLU of Florida's Northwest Region, which has its regional office in Pensacola's Blount Building. Susan Watson became the regional director on July 1, 2005. On March 5, 2007, Benjamin Stevenson began work as the regional office's first staff attorney.[1]

The Panhandle Chapter was first organized in 1988, but the charter expired around 1995. It was renewed on November 11, 2000, when 35 members met at Washington High School to approve a new set of bylaws.[2] As of 2007, the Panhandle Chapter had about 800 members and financial supporters.[3]

The Panhandle Chapter serves the four western counties of Florida and is made up of three groups: the Escambia/Santa Rosa group, the University of West Florida group, and the Okaloosa/Walton group.

Issues

According to the group's website, the top issues faced by the chapter include:

  • Excessive force of law enforcement
  • LGBT rights
  • Religious freedom
  • Racial justice
  • Reproductive rights
  • Free speech

Notable cases

References

  1. http://www.inweekly.net/article.asp?artID=4374
  2. "ACLU forms chapter in Panhandle." Pensacola News Journal, November 12, 2000.
  3. According to regional director Susan Watson