While the ACLU understands that candidates will have a more difficult time reaching dislocated voters, the privacy rights of those individuals far outweigh the narrower interests of office seekers.

The Federal Privacy Act, which governs information about individuals who have applied for assistance, protects them against scam artists, abusive spouses, data miners and a host of others who would misuse the information, if it became public.

ACLU respects the privacy rights of individuals gathering at a somber moment, but at the same time, recognize that freedom of speech and assembly are cherished rights that need to be upheld. This country was founded on the right to protest. You can't pick which protesters should speak and who can't.

We protect the rights of Americans and their privacy, ... We do not violate them and we never will.

We don't think any taxpayer should be in the situation where they could sign away their rights to privacy.

He cannot erase the fact that he put his privacy rights ahead of the need to find that young woman.