Huge fan of the ACLU in general, but some of the highly unpopular but incredibly important work they used to do, for example defending neo-Nazi groups right to protest, has been discarded in favor of popular causes.
While I understand why they have gone this way (who wants to defend Nazis in court?) it was a very important symbol of the organizations insane dedication to civil liberties. Taking a principled stand of preserving freedoms for those who are deeply, deeply unpopular is inconvenient and essential.
Huge fan of the ACLU in general, but some of the highly unpopular but incredibly important work they used to do, for example defending neo-Nazi groups right to protest, has been discarded in favor of popular causes.
While I understand why they have gone this way (who wants to defend Nazis in court?) it was a very important symbol of the organizations insane dedication to civil liberties. Taking a principled stand of preserving freedoms for those who are deeply, deeply unpopular is inconvenient and essential.