The ACLU of Maine is the state affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union. MISSION The American Civil Liberties Union of Maine (previously the Maine Civil Liberties Union) was founded in 1968 with the purpose of advancing and preserving civil liberties of Maine people through litigation, advocacy, public education and lobbying. The ACLU of Maine follows these basic principles: the right of free expression; the right to dissent; the right to religious freedom; the right to equal treatment for all people; the right to fair play in encounters with government; and the right to be let alone, to be secure from interference in private matters.