American Civil Liberties Union:

Press Room

Send your Letter to the Editor

To create and send your letter, just follow these easy steps:

-- Use your Zip Code to find publications in your region.
-- Choose which newspaper will receive your letter via email.
-- Compose your letter -- in your own words -- and click SEND.

Tips for writing a Letter to the Editor:

Make it your own -- If you're using the talking points (click on one to include it in your letter), be sure to change or add to it so it’s YOUR letter. Papers are not likely to publish a letter that has been sent in by multiple people. Learn more about the recently released memos, and see all of the documents that have been brought to light due to the ACLU's Freedom of Information Act lawsuit.

Keep it short -- Most papers have a 150 to 250 word limit, and readers are more likely to focus on short, to-the-point letters than long wordy ones. Also, be sure to include your daytime and evening phone numbers at the end of your letter. Many newspapers will call you back to confirm that you are the author of your letter and will not print it without this information!

Step 1 - Select a Recipient

Select the newspaper you want to write to below, and we'll open a window for you to write your Letter to the Editor.

Look for papers within miles of zip code

Step 2 - Write your message

Subject:

Your Letter:
****************************** It is important that you write the letter in your own words. Nothing is more persuasive to the media, lawmakers, and the public than the experiences, opinions, and feelings of concerned citizens. To help get you started, we've provided simple talking points to the right (click the talking point once to add it to your letter), but please remember to use the words that mean the most to you. REMEMBER: DELETE THESE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE WRITING YOUR LETTER AND INCLUDE YOUR DAYTIME AND EVENING PHONE NUMBERS. ****************************** Sincerely, [Your Name] Contact Phone: [Your Phone Number(s)]

First Name*

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Click on a point to add it to the letter.

There is a large body of public evidence, including the recently released “torture memos” written by government lawyers, to suggest that crimes might have been committed with the knowledge and authorization of high level Bush officials.

The release of these memos and other Bush-era torture evidence is crucial to the historical record. The American people have a right to know what was done in their name.

By releasing the torture memos, the Obama administration is beginning to live up to its promise of transparency. But transparency is only one step toward accountability. Now that the memos have been made public, high-ranking officials in the Bush administration must be held accountable for authorizing torture.

It is time to appoint an independent prosecutor to conduct a thorough top-to-bottom investigation into who knew about, authorized and carried out the Bush administration’s torture policies. Any criminal investigation of torture crimes must examine decisions made and carried out at the very highest levels of government.

Congress should also appoint a bi-partisan select committee with subpoena power to review the Bush administration abuses.

As President Obama and Attorney General Holder have said, no one is above the law. It is time for the attorney general to make good on that promise and appoint an independent prosecutor to conduct a thorough criminal investigation of torture crimes.

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