Editing American Civil Liberties Union (section)

====Origins====
[[File:CrystalEastman.jpeg|thumb|[[Crystal Eastman]] was one of the co-founders of the CLB, the predecessor to the ACLU.]]

The ACLU developed from the [[National Civil Liberties Bureau]] (CLB), co-founded in 1917 during [[World War I]] by [[Crystal Eastman]], an attorney activist, and [[Roger Nash Baldwin]].<ref>Walker, pp. 17, 20.</ref> The focus of the CLB was on [[freedom of speech]], primarily anti-war speech, and on supporting [[conscientious objector]]s who did not want to serve in World War I.<ref>Walker, pp. 23–24, 30.</ref> In 1918, Crystal Eastman resigned from the organization due to health issues.<ref>Walker, p. 30.</ref> After assuming sole leadership of the CLB, Baldwin insisted that the organization be reorganized. He wanted to change its focus from litigation to direct action and public education.<ref name=W47>Walker, p. 47.</ref>

The CLB directors concurred, and on January 19, 1920, they formed an organization under a new name, the American Civil Liberties Union.<ref name=W47/> Although a handful of other organizations in the United States at that time focused on civil rights, such as the [[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People]] ([[NAACP]]) and [[Anti-Defamation League]] (ADL), the ACLU was the first that did not represent a particular group of persons or a single theme.<ref name=W47/> Like the CLB, the NAACP pursued litigation to work on civil rights, including efforts to overturn the [[Disfranchisement after Reconstruction era (United States)|disfranchisement]] of African Americans in the South that had taken place since the turn of the century.

During the first decades of the ACLU, Baldwin continued as its leader. His charisma and energy attracted many supporters to the ACLU board and leadership ranks.<ref>Walker, p. 66.</ref> The ACLU was directed by an executive committee and was not particularly democratic or egalitarian. New Yorkers dominated the ACLU's headquarters.<ref>Walker, p. 67.</ref> Most ACLU funding came from philanthropies, such as the [[Garland Fund]].<ref name="Walker">Walker, p. 70.</ref>

[[Lucille Bernheimer Milner]] was cofounder of the American Civil Liberties Union. She also served for a time as Executive Secretary.<ref name="The New York Times">{{cite web |title=Lucille Milner, 87, A Founder of A.C.L.U |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/08/18/archives/lucille-milner-87-a-founder-of-aclu.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=6 August 2024 |date=18 August 1975}}</ref>