Make sure you and your friends are prepared to vote this year. Get the full details about voting in your state at aclu.org/voter
ACLU.ORG
Make a voting plan and know your rights!
ACLU
September 17 at 8:29 AM ·
Make sure you and your friends are prepared to vote this year. Get the full details about voting in your state at aclu.org/voter
ACLU
September 17 at 8:29 AM ·
Make sure you and your friends are prepared to vote this year. Get the full details about voting in your state at aclu.org/voter
If we want police accountability, we must END 👏🏽 QUALIFIED 👏🏾 IMMUNITY 👏🏿
CBSNEWS.COM
The controversy over qualified immunity
ACLU
September 29 at 10:07 PM ·
One thing is clear: We have to vote for the country we want to live in.
Head to aclu.org/voter to make sure you're ready.
ACLU of Minnesota
September 30 at 12:00 PM ·
Just this summer, we’ve filed lawsuits to protect voting rights, defend the rights of anti-racist protesters, and secure our right to a free press.
We’re not backing down from the threats we face. But we need your support to stay strong.
Learn more: https://action.aclu.org/webform/mn-fulfill-libertys-promise-registration-2020
Help support your local ACLU affiliate next Tuesday October 6 by attending our virtual Fulfill Liberty's Promise event!
ACTION.ACLU.ORG
Fulfill Liberty's Promise
ACLU of Minnesota
September 29 at 4:43 PM ·
A big thanks to the team of attorneys from Stinson LLP led by Tim Griffin and Andrew Davis! We couldn’t fight for N.H. or do any of the work we do without such great support from pro bono partners like you!
https://www.aclu-mn.org/en/press-releases/appeals-court-rules-segregation-trans-student-violates-state-constitution-civil
"To say racial and gender equity trainings cause racism and sexism, is like saying diagnosing and developing a treatment plan causes cancer." - ReNika Moore, director of the ACLU's Racial Justice Program
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-executive-order-colleges-cancel-diversity-program-1537099
NEWSWEEK.COM
Donald Trump forces some colleges to cancel diversity programs, others stand firm
ACLU of Minnesota
22 hrs ·
Psst. The deadline for online voter registration is Oct. 13. Pass it on.
https://www.aclu-mn.org/en/campaigns/get-out-vote-2020#Register%20to%20Vote
George Floyd was the descendant of enslaved people and sharecroppers, raised in a community plagued by underinvestment.
As a child, he wanted to be a Supreme Court Justice, but his life was structured by systemic racism.
Rest in power, George.
WASHINGTONPOST.COM
Injustice in life and oppression in death: How systemic racism shaped George Floyd’s life and hobbled his ambition
Cash bail creates two tiers of the criminal legal system; the haves and the have nots.
Justice should not be based on what's in your wallet. End cash bail.
https://www.startribune.com/derek-chauvin-s-release-raises-questions-about-bail-system/572682182/
STARTRIBUNE.COM
Release of Derek Chauvin again brings bail questions to the forefront in Minnesota
ACLU
October 8 at 9:50 AM ·
ATTN POLITICIANS ⬆️
A shout out to Norm Pentelovitch and all the generous, talented pro bono lawyers we’re so lucky to work with! You help us fight for justice and the civil liberties of all Minnesotans.
https://minnlawyer.com/sponsored_content/anthony-ostlund-has-a-passion-for-pro-bono-work/
MINNLAWYER.COM
Anthony Ostlund has a passion for pro bono work
ACLU
October 15 at 1:01 PM ·
Sylvia Mendez was the plaintiff in a landmark case that prohibited segregation in California public schools, paving the way for Brown v. Board.
As #HispanicHeritageMonth comes to a close, we recognize those who fought before us and those who keep the fight alive today.
🚨🚨🚨 Today is the deadline to complete the census. 🚨🚨🚨
Missing even one person in the census count can result in up to $1000 of funding being lost for that community.
Keep your neighborhood strong. Complete your census today.
MY2020CENSUS.GOV
Census 2020
ACLU
18 hrs ·
50 years ago, Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists to protest racial discrimination as they received Olympic medals.
The fight for racial justice continues today. We have a right to protest for racial equity and we will use it.
Bernard Cohen was co-counsel in Loving v. Virginia, the SCOTUS case we won that overturned unconstitutional bans against interracial marriage.
Today we honor his work advancing racial equity. May his memory inspire us all to continue the work of realizing equal justice for all.
NYTIMES.COM
Bernard Cohen, Lawyer in Landmark Mixed-Marriage Case, Dies at 86
Our leaders and our governments have divested from Black and brown communities for decades, hollowing out the resources and services our communities need to thrive — and even to survive.
That’s why we have crime.
More police won’t fix this.
TWINCITIES.COM
Do more cops lead to less crime? Some St. Paul council members say no.
ACLU
October 15 at 10:24 AM ·
Leading up to the 2020 election, we’ve seen an unprecedented amount of election litigation.
In this episode of At the Polls, we discuss how litigation across the country could impact who gets to vote and how.
ACLU of Minnesota
October 21 at 12:00 PM ·
Between now and the election if you donate $50 or more you'll receive an ACLU ""vote"" mask. Donate $125 or more, and receive an ACLU ""vote"" mask AND t-shirt.
https://action.aclu.org/give/support-aclu-minnesota
ACLU
October 20 at 2:35 PM ·
Despite being indigenous to the land, Native Americans were not afforded the right to vote because they were not considered citizens for centuries. Today, states continue to actively suppress Native voters through restrictive voter requirements. Reservations lack access to polls and election resources, and the federal government still fails to accommodate “non-traditional” addresses in rural areas where many Native voters live.
Native voices MUST be heard in our government. When we can all vote, our democracy is stronger.
Every vote must be counted.
If it takes a little longer to announce results this year, it’s not a cause for alarm. It’s means our democracy is working.
NPR.ORG
If There's No Election Night Winner, Don't Panic
Louisville prosecutors offered Breonna Taylor's ex-boyfriend a lenient plea deal if he would just implicate her in an "organized crime syndicate."
This was a trick to smear her name and bolster the cops' story. We have to reimagine this broken system.
ACLU.ORG
True Justice for Breonna Taylor Won’t Come From Criminal Charges Alone
ACLU of Minnesota
October 20 at 9:13 AM ·
Election Day is 14 days away! Have you returned your ballot yet? It's not too late to return your absentee ballot via mail or local drop box!
https://www.aclu-mn.org/en/campaigns/aclu-mn-voting-101
On May 1, 1971, about 35,000 anti-Vietnam War protesters assembled in DC.
In a few days, more than 12,000 people were unconstitutionally arrested by police — the largest mass arrests in US history.
So, the ACLU of DC stepped in.
ACLU.ORG
How the ACLU Won the Largest Mass Acquittal in American History
ACLU
October 27 at 2:03 PM ·
Stormé Delarverie was a singer and entertainer believed to have been a part of the fight with police that started the Stonewall Rebellion.
In the 50s and 60s, Stormé toured the Black theater circuit as a pioneering drag king. Stormé was also known for protecting queer and gay community members from harassment.
This #LGBTHistoryMonth, we remember Stormé's enduring influence and legacy in fashion, gender expression, and love for the LGBTQ community.
One week from today the Supreme Court will be hearing this case.
Decades of fighting for our families and our rights are on the line.
WASHINGTONPOST.COM
Opinion | The next big case on LGBTQ rights is already before the Supreme Court
ACLU of Minnesota added an event.
Paid for by ACLU of Minnesota ·
THU, OCT 29 AT 4:30 PM CDT
It’s Not Too Late to Be a Voter: Voting Q&A
ACLU of Minnesota
20 hrs ·
Is your mail-in ballot still sitting on the kitchen table? Return it in person or to a drop box ASAP. Do it now!
ACLU of Minnesota
21 hrs ·
Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) to speak with a trained Election Protection volunteer.
✅Lookup your polling place
✅Check your registration
✅Find ballot information
#ProtectOurVote
The mass incarceration crisis has very real implications for our democratic processes — including voting.
Our right to vote should never be taken away.
THEMARSHALLPROJECT.ORG
Most People in Jail Can Vote. Many of Them Don’t Know It.
ACLU of Minnesota
20 hrs ·
We’re fighting for:
✔️Immigrants’ rights
✔️Racial justice
✔️Abortion rights
✔️Disability rights
✔️LGBTQ rights
✔️An end to our broken system of mass incarceration
And we will vote like it. Are you ready? #OurVoteOurFight
ACLU of Minnesota
20 hrs ·
We’re fighting for:
✔️Immigrants’ rights
✔️Racial justice
✔️Abortion rights
✔️Disability rights
✔️LGBTQ rights
✔️An end to our broken system of mass incarceration
And we will vote like it. Are you ready? #OurVoteOurFight
ACLU of Minnesota
9 hrs ·
The Election is not over until all the ballots are counted.
We the People decide this election.
ACLU
10 hrs ·
VICTORY: Colorado voters just defeated Proposition 115, rejecting the ballot measure that would ban abortion later in pregnancy.
Safe, compassionate abortion access for all is here to stay in Colorado.
ACLU of Minnesota
17 hrs ·
Check out our volunteer poll monitors who are on the ground ready to protect every Minnesotans' right to vote! They are among 48 ACLU-MN volunteers and more than 400 people from our nonpartisan allies watching the polls across the state.
ACLU
Yesterday at 6:01 AM ·
🗳 Election Day is finally here! Know your rights when voting.
If you have questions about casting your ballot or face difficulty voting today, help is a phone call away. Help us share this widely.
Voters last week approved every ballot measure that would work to end the War on Drugs.
Next month Congress will also have a chance to act by voting on marijuana reform. Tell your representatives to support the MORE Act.
ACTION.ACLU.ORG
Support Just Marijuana Legalization
Our nation's electoral systems withstood record turnout, an avalanche of mail-in ballots during a pandemic, and attacks from the highest office in the country.
Democracy persists.
ACLU.ORG
Democracy Persists
There is work to do to create a more perfect union.
And we at ACLU are here to do it.
✊🏾✊🏻✊🏿✊🏼✊🏽
ACLU.ORG
Democracy Persists
ACLU of Minnesota
November 5 at 11:44 AM ·
Thank you to all the elections officials working to ensure every vote is counted. #CountEveryVote
In Mississippi, voters have decided on a new state flag, replacing an old banner that included a Confederate battle emblem.
Mississippi was the last state in the country whose flag included the Confederate emblem.
EDITION.CNN.COM
Mississippi Ballot Measure 3: Voters approve magnolia design as new state flag
ACLU of Minnesota
November 4 at 10:10 AM ·
Our elections officials are doing their job across our nation right now, making sure every vote is counted. They’re making sure we know the will of the people. In our democracy, we count every vote. Voters decide the winner.
ACLU of Minnesota
November 18 at 9:27 AM ·
We are very close to our fundraising goal! All gifts given in November in honor of Give to the Max Day will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $15,000. #GTMD2020 #GiveToTheMax
https://www.givemn.org/organization/Aclumn
ACLU
Yesterday at 7:12 PM ·
Hear directly from Montana CBP how common racial profiling is among their colleagues. This is why we fight.
As the late Justice Ginsburg famously said, "Women will only have true equality when men share with them the responsibility of bringing up the next generation."
Lawmakers across the country must make this vision a reality by enacting caregiver protections for ALL of us.
ACLU.ORG
Men Are Being Fired for Being Caregivers. Here’s Why that Hurts Women Too.
ACLU
November 24 at 10:46 PM ·
We sued CBP for illegally arresting American citizens simply for speaking Spanish in Montana in 2018, and our lawsuit revealed stark and alarming racism in texts between agents.
Congrats and thanks to our friends at the ACLU of Michigan and everyone else who worked so hard to make sure every vote counted. Hats off, too, to the people who are making sure the will of the people prevails, regardless of party or presidential pressure.

ACLU of Michigan
November 23 at 4:28 PM ·
BREAKING: Your voice was heard – The power of the people prevailed and our election results in Michigan are certified.
Now we move forward together, to continue to fight for and protect the civil liberties and freedoms of Michiganders.
If the Supreme Court becomes just another political arena, constitutional rights will cease to function as a check on majority power.
We the people — ALL of us — can and must do our part to defend liberty.We won't stop fighting.
ACLU.ORG
Can Liberals Win in a Conservative Court?
ACLU
November 23 at 9:49 AM ·
This is flat-out unconscionable.
We are fighting for a world where trans people are safe from violence.
THEM.US
Laverne Cox Says She’s Fine But “In Shock” After Transphobic Attack
The rapid spread of COVID in our prisons hurts inmates and staff, and causes terrible stress for them and their families. It's time MnDOC did more to stop #COVID19.
TWINCITIES.COM
‘Is it a death sentence being here?’: COVID sweeps through Stillwater prison
A proposal to shift $8 million from traditional policing to fund violence prevention and a response from mental health experts, rather than sending police into areas they have no training for? Sounds like common sense.
https://minnesotareformer.com/2020/11/27/minneapolis-council-proposal-increases-social-services-without-defunding-police/
MINNESOTAREFORMER.COM
Minneapolis Council proposal shifts $8M from police to mental health response, violence prevention - Minnesota Reformer
ACLU.ORG
Black Communities Cannot Wait Any Longer. The Time to Divest Is Now.
Police are emboldened to use excessive force without fear of repercussions because more often than not, the law protects them.
ACLU.ORG
Lower Courts Agree — It's Time to End Qualified Immunity
Anti-abortion efforts are rooted in white supremacy and the exploitation of Black women.
We can't forget that.
ACLU.ORG
The Racist History of Abortion and Midwifery Bans
If you live in Minneapolis, we need your help right now! Please demand that your city council member pass the Safety For All Budget Plan. It shifts some money from traditional policing to mental health response teams, violence prevention and community oversight of police.
It's up for a final vote by the entire council tomorrow.
Take action to let City Council know it's time to value prevention over punishment. And to center the safety and well-being of ALL communities.
ACTION.ACLU.ORG
Demand a Budget that Works for All of Us
Now is the time for visionary moves to end mass incarceration.
Check out our criminal justice to-do list for the Biden-Harris administration’s first 100 days ⬇️
ACLU.ORG
Bold and Visionary: A Criminal Justice To-Do List for the New Administration
The Biden-Harris administration must prioritize advancing racial justice. Here’s how they can start.
ACLU.ORG
The Biden Administration Must Prioritize Reversing Trump's Damage to Racial Justice Policy
ACLU
December 6 at 1:14 PM ·
There are an estimated 11 million undocumented people living in the United States. We need a broad and inclusive pathway to citizenship for these immigrants — without giving funding to immigration and border enforcement.
A pathway to citizenship would mean that no president could rip the rug out from underneath Dreamers, TPS holders, or the millions of people whose lives have long depended on the whims of whoever is in the White House. Our communities deserve that security.
ACLU
December 5 at 9:29 PM ·
Police in the US shoot and kill more than 1,000 people PER YEAR. That's at least 16x the rates in Germany and England.
We'll be taking to the streets until police brutality is no longer the norm in this country.
While hundreds of children have lived separated from their parents, the ACLU learned the administration had phone numbers AND addresses it failed to provide. This is why the ACLU sues, and why we'll keep suing.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/02/politics/family-separation-us-border-children/index.html
CNN.COM
Parents of 628 migrant children separated at border still have not been found, court filing says
These executions are a sad reminder of how the criminal legal system dehumanizes the people it touches, especially during a pandemic.
ACLU.ORG
We’ve Had Enough Death in 2020. Why Add More?
ACLU
December 11 at 6:30 PM ·
Democracy persists.
Every vote counts.
Every vote must be counted.
Even - especially - when politicians try to block votes they don’t like.
AMP.USATODAY.COM
Supreme Court denies effort to block election results in 4 key states that sealed Trump's fate
Thank you Mayor Frey for having the vision, wisdom, courage, and leadership to begin the process of reimagining policing!
STARTRIBUNE.COM
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey signs new budget with police changes
ACLU
December 11 at 9:13 PM ·
It's about time our elected officials quit blaming their political outcomes on a movement that aims to protect the Black and Brown communities that put them in office.
We won't back down from our calls to divest from the police.
7 Steps to Criminal Justice Reform:
1. End the Failed War on Drugs
2. End Mass Incarceration
3. End Private Prisons
4. Reduce Pretrial Detention
5. Alter Police Use of Force Standards
6. End the Death Penalty
7. End Solitary Confinement
ACLU.ORG
Bold and Visionary: A Criminal Justice To-Do List for the New Administration
ACLU
December 18 at 9:09 PM ·
We and the ACLU of Georgia won’t let it happen.
There’s one important action this administration can take right away to show transgender people that they respect and support us: give us identification that reflects who we are.
ACLU.ORG
They The People: The Biden Administration Must go Beyond Repealing Trump’s Attacks on Trans Rights
We cannot survive and thrive if our lives are policed and criminalized.
ACLU.ORG
To Protect Black Trans Lives, Decriminalize Sex Work
ACLU
December 18 at 11:00 AM ·
Breonna Taylor still deserves justice.
“You know, there hasn't been a civil rights movement like this, ever.”
GQ.COM
Visible Men: Black Fathers Talk About Losing Sons to Police Brutality
After decades of fighting to undo the damage done by the war on drugs, could this be a tipping point?
ACLU.ORG
The Winner of the 2020 Election: Drug Legalization (ep. 132)
Public health experts have been saying this for almost a year: We will not be able to get COVID-19 under control in our communities until we STOP the spread in jails.
MOTHERJONES.COM
Southern California jails have become COVID superspreaders
The death penalty only perpetuates a cycle of trauma and harm.
It is time to end it once and for all.
CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
The death penalty kills people that no longer exist
ACLU
Yesterday at 10:34 AM ·
The government can’t promote religious beliefs when celebrating the holidays. But individuals and faith communities generally have a constitutional right to celebrate Christmas and other religious holidays.And we at the ACLU have repeatedly fought to protect this right.
We've sued on behalf of an incarcerated person’s mother and three-year-old son to overturn a state prison ban on Christmas cards, prayer cards, and drawings sent through the mail.
We've intervened on behalf of a group of high school students who were suspended for passing out candy canes with religious messages.
We filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of two women who were fired for refusing, on religious grounds, to work at a racetrack on Christmas Day.
So, as always, we’ll celebrate Christmas this season. But we’ll also celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the Solstice, Festivus, and any other holiday — and fight for your right to do the same.
It’s not about who gets a pardon.
It’s about who doesn’t — and who has to wait too long.
ABCNEWS.GO.COM
Man who spent 36 years in prison for stealing $50 from a bakery is now set to be freed
ACLU
December 24 at 7:53 PM ·
When asked about the NSA’s mass collection of Americans’ phone records, Donald Trump said, “I support legislation which allows the NSA to hold the bulk metadata.”
ACLU
December 18 at 9:09 PM ·
We and the ACLU of Georgia won’t let it happen.
Congress just passed a defense bill that will significantly curb police forces' access to military equipment.
This is a win for public safety. But we still need a full halt on the programs that let this happen in the first place.
ACTION.ACLU.ORG
Demand a moratorium on 1033
Following the police killing of a man in south Minneapolis last night, the ACLU of Minnesota is calling for a thorough and timely investigation of the shooting, and for the immediate release of bodycam and dashboard footage.
Any time police kill someone it is a tragedy. That it happened so close to the site of George Floyd’s death at the hands of MPD just compounds the community’s pain. These circumstances emphasize the urgent need for transparency by all officials and law enforcement.
STARTRIBUNE.COM
Minneapolis police shoot, kill man during traffic stop
ACLU
Yesterday at 9:37 AM ·
We are fighting for the country we want to live in.
With all that we’ve got.
For as long as it takes.
Every donation to support our work will be DOUBLED through midnight.
➡️ https://aclu.org/facebook2021
In the last weeks of 2020, years of effort from our organizing team finally paid off when Myon Burrell’s sentence was commuted.
Learn more about our most emotional victory of the year: https://www.aclu-mn.org/en/press-releases/aclu-mn-applauds-myon-burrells-sentence-commutation-urges-pardon
See our Top Ten Wins: https://www.aclu-mn.org/en/top-ten-victories-2020
ACLU-MN.ORG
Top Ten Victories of 2020
“And now George Floyd’s death is just the latest instance of police-related killings in the ... past 10 years; the protests and violence that followed are costs that come from bearing the weight of a system that won’t let you live any kind of life.”
THEATLANTIC.COM
Minneapolis Had This Coming
Watch ACLU-MN Policy Associate Munira Mohamed discussing the stakes of the fight against facial recognition and surveillance.
YOUTUBE.COM
AUSTIN KRAFT and MUNIRA MOHAMED At Human Rights Day. Ethics In Technology
White supremacy reaches into all corners of policing institutions, and it makes our communities — and our nation — far less safe.
THEWEEK.COM
The stunning failure of the Capitol police
A statement on the Capitol mob from American Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Anthony D. Romero:
“The fact that President Trump and his followers didn’t succeed doesn’t change the core fact: Members of Congress who wanted to set aside the Electoral College slate and agitators who stormed the Capitol were both involved in a failed coup attempt. These are not protests — we know protests. We shudder to think how police departments would have responded had Black and Brown individuals done what we saw on television today.
“What we saw today are violent acts meant to subvert the peaceful transfer of power, the very hallmark of our democracy. The American people have voted, and the states have certified their electoral votes. A peaceful transition to President-elect Biden is the only patriotic path forward.”
American Civil Liberties Union of the District of Columbia Executive Director Monica Hopkins added:
“We hope all of our friends, neighbors, and colleagues in the District are staying safe in this fraught time. We denounce the attempt to subvert our government and the will of the voters and condemn this armed assault on our democracy.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/01/06/dc-protests-trump-rally-live-updates/S
WASHINGTONPOST.COM
Live updates: Woman dies after shooting in U.S. Capitol; D.C. National Guard activated after mob breaches building
The Biden administration must end the use of private prisons.
ACLU.ORG
Bold and Visionary: A Criminal Justice To-Do List for the New Administration
Body camera footage can't promote accountability when police themselves get to decide which footage is released.
ACLU.ORG
A Tale of Two Body Camera Videos
ACLU
January 1 at 7:01 PM ·
Automatic voter registration is a common-sense way for states to expand voter rolls and reach those that are unregistered.
Other states should take notice and embrace policies that provide greater access to the ballot.
Each day, the government spends our taxpayer dollars detaining tens of thousands of people in immigrant detention.
We can demand a different future.
ACLU.ORG
The Questions You Probably THINK You Know the Answer to — But Likely Don’t — About ICE Detention
If a president’s repeated lies, illegal political pressure, and the stoking of a mob to subvert the democratic process are not an abuse of power warranting impeachment, it is difficult to know what would be.
ACLU.ORG
We Can Uphold Free Speech and Hold President Trump Accountable
BREAKING GOOD NEWS: The head of the Minneapolis police union, Bob Kroll, has announced his retirement. He was the subject of numerous complaints and lawsuits alleging police brutality, and was a font of racist remarks, creating a toxic environment.
We hope Minneapolis police look in a different, more positive direction for a new leader who will help reimagine policing, rather than blocking any progress.
KSTP.COM
Police union head Bob Kroll says he'll retire at end of January
It’s time for the movement for women’s choice and bodily autonomy to take the plight of incarcerated women seriously.
Join our rockstar panel this week for a discussion.
EVENTBRITE.COM
Women, Mass Incarceration, and Criminal Justice
ACLU
January 11 at 1:59 AM ·
As a matter of policy, we do not regularly call for the removal of public officials.
Having considered our mission, our commitment to nonpartisanship, and our policy to take a position on impeachment only where officials pose a "grave and imminent threat to civil liberties," our board resolved that Trump committed impeachable offenses and violated his oath.
President Trump has violated his oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution.
He poses a grave and imminent threat to civil liberties by engaging in an extended pattern of bad-faith conduct designed to subvert the results of a democratic election.
The president's pattern includes:
◾ Repeatedly making false statements about 'voter fraud' designed to undermine the election
◾ Pressuring officials in several states including MI, PA, and GA, to interfere with the results of the election, including a January 2 taped phone call
◾ Seeking to disenfranchise people of color by targeting many of these efforts at jurisdictions with predominantly Black or Brown populations
◾ Directing Vice President Pence to block Congress' certification of the Electoral College results
◾ Urging an unruly mob to riot at the United States Capitol on January 6, in an effort to prevent the certification of the Electoral College results and to intimidate members of Congress from carrying out their constitutional duties
The ACLU national board recognizes that officials have a right to pursue good-faith challenges to election results.
But the pattern of conduct by the president displayed an unfounded, unconstitutional, bad-faith effort to undermine the results merely because the president lost.
Because our democracy rests on a commitment by representatives to let the people decide, these unprecedented acts constitute high crimes and misdemeanors that pose a grave and imminent threat to civil liberties and the foundations of our Republic, warranting Trump's impeachment.
“It is incumbent upon all of us,” says Kate Ruane of the ACLU, to compare the images from the Capitol riot with the images of the treatment of past protesters “and ask probing questions about the difference.”
NYTIMES.COM
Capitol Rioters Walked Away. Climate Protesters Saw a Double Standard.
Our leaders have to be held accountable. We the people are the only ones who can do that.
Tune in to this special episode of At Liberty as our experts discussed the violence that took place this week in Washington, DC.
ACLU.ORG
Special Edition: ACLU Responds to Events at the U.S. Capitol (ep. 136)
"It would be a shame if the response to poor policing was to give the police more authority that would infringe on civil liberties.”
NBCNEWS.COM
Opinion | Biden backs new domestic terror law in predictably misguided response
If you’ve asked yourself how the assault on the U.S. Capitol could have taken place, or why police were so underprepared...
You need to read about “bluelining.”
BUZZFEEDNEWS.COM
American Policing Has Never Seen White People As A Threat. The Capitol Siege Was No Exception.
If a president’s repeated lies, illegal political pressure, and the stoking of a mob to subvert the democratic process are not an abuse of power warranting impeachment, it is difficult to know what would be.
ACLU.ORG
We Can Uphold Free Speech and Hold President Trump Accountable
BREAKING GOOD NEWS: The head of the Minneapolis police union, Bob Kroll, has announced his retirement. He was the subject of numerous complaints and lawsuits alleging police brutality, and was a font of racist remarks, creating a toxic environment.
We hope Minneapolis police look in a different, more positive direction for a new leader who will help reimagine policing, rather than blocking any progress.
KSTP.COM
Police union head Bob Kroll says he'll retire at end of January
It’s time for the movement for women’s choice and bodily autonomy to take the plight of incarcerated women seriously.
Join our rockstar panel this week for a discussion.
EVENTBRITE.COM
Women, Mass Incarceration, and Criminal Justice
ACLU
January 22 at 7:03 PM ·
Roe’s promise has never been truly fulfilled.
There’s still a huge gap between having the right to abortion — and the ability to actually get one.
We won’t stop fighting until we can close that gap, and ensure that everyone can get the care that they need.
THU, FEB 4 AT 6:00 PM CST
ACLU February Legislative Learning Session
In 2020, a judge ruled that it violates the Minnesota Constitution to segregate trans students in school locker room facilities.
If we have to stand up for Minnesota trans students again, we won’t hesitate and we won’t back down.
APNEWS.COM
Transgender youth bills in US states reflect deep divisions
Reforms alone are not enough to end police violence.
PROPUBLICA.ORG
Still Can’t Breathe
ACLU
January 21 at 10:12 PM ·
Yesterday, President Biden issued an executive order on day one that rescinded Trump’s Muslim ban targeting Africans, after 4 years and many iterations to keep it alive.
Now it’s time to bring justice to those impacted.
ACLU
January 21 at 6:56 PM ·
We’ve seen presidents come and go for 101 years. Our work always continues.
ACLU
Yesterday at 2:43 PM ·
Decades of inhumane policies — some of which President Biden helped create — have fortified our nation's mass incarceration crisis.
Now, President Biden must help reverse course. Add your name at aclu.org/demandclemency
We hope Anoka County Jail finally and actually ends its unconstitutional practice of holding up the booking process for people born outside the U.S. to contact ICE. A jury just said this was false imprisonment. We thank our wonderful client, and the jury, for their bravery.
STARTRIBUNE.COM
Jury awards $30,000 over Anoka County jail policy for foreign-born immigrants
This time last year, more than 80 percent of people detained by ICE were in facilities run by private prison companies.
No one should profit off the misery caused by immigration detention.
WASHINGTONPOST.COM
Opinion | Biden is ending the Justice Department’s contracts with private prisons. Now end ICE’s.
ACLU of Minnesota
Yesterday at 4:10 PM ·
Thanks to Representative Sandra Feist for introducing HF 341 to protect student data privacy! It's NOT ok to spy on students through school-issued technology.
Privacy matters.
ICYMI: Catch our conversation about the proposed ordinance to ban facial recognition in Minneapolis.
Featuring Minneapolis Ward 3 Council Member Steve Fletcher, Stanford University Race & Technology Fellow Elizabeth Adams, and ACLU-MN Policy Associate Munira Mohamed.
YOUTUBE.COM
Ban Facial Recognition in Minneapolis?
Ken Burns Says U.S. Has 3 Viruses: COVID-19, White Supremacy And Misinformation
NPR.ORG
Ken Burns Says U.S. Has 3 Viruses: COVID-19, White Supremacy And Misinformation
The Other 98%
February 3 at 11:30 PM ·
Guantánamo prison was built to house a population exclusively made up of Muslim men, and subject them to cruelty, torture, and degrading treatment.
It’s past time to end indefinite military detention.
https://www.nybooks.com/daily/2021/01/29/an-open-letter-to-president-biden-about-guantanamo/
NYBOOKS.COM
An Open Letter to President Biden About Guantánamo
America has existed longer with slavery than it has without.
It's far past time for a commission to study the impacts of this reality and make recommendations for reparations.
FORBES.COM
Reparations Matter: Accountability Begins With Understanding
ACLU
8 hrs ·
Once he does, Virginia will be the 23rd state to have formally abolished the death penalty. Three additional states have official moratoriums.
Most states in the US no longer allow executions.
Yet the federal government has executed 13 people in the past year. Let that sink in.
ACLU
10 hrs ·
Trayvon Martin would have turned 26 today.
Rest in peace, Trayvon.
BREAKING: A measure to end the needless suspension of driver's licenses just passed the MN House Transportation Committee 17-0.
When people lose their licenses due to traffic tickets, it can lead to terrible unintended consequences like job loss and debt.
Suspending licenses like this is not justice. It's not right. And that's why ACLU-MN Organizer Ismael Dore testified today in favor of House File 336.
REVISOR.MN.GOV
HF 336 as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2021)
Ending Trump's sham emergency is a good start — but it's far from enough.
We now need bold action from the Biden administration to defend border communities and tear down this wall.
POLITICO.COM
Biden formally ends Trump's national emergency declaration at the border
ACLU of Minnesota
Yesterday at 4:56 PM ·
Congratulations to all our partners and, most importantly, to the people of Minneapolis on this first big step toward banning facial recognition in our city!
We look forward to celebrating this victory after the full council vote on Friday.
We need to make it easier to identify and remove racist, abusive officers.
Black lives depend on it.
THEMARSHALLPROJECT.ORG
“That Could Have Been Me”: The People Derek Chauvin Choked Before George Floyd
Bj Williams
February 6 at 3:56 PM ·
Tomorrow the Minneapolis City Council will take its first vote on an ordinance to ban facial recognition.
Take action today to make sure the council votes yes to protect all of us from this racist, invasive tech.
ACLU-MN.ORG
Act Now to Ban Facial Recognition in Minneapolis
ACLU
February 8 at 5:41 PM ·
The Trump administration separated families as a deterrence effort to dissuade families from seeking safety.
But families had no choice, they were fleeing life-threatening danger.
ACLU of Minnesota
1 hr ·
ACLU-MN URGES RESPECT, SPACE FOR PROTESTERS IN CHAUVIN TRIAL POLICING PLANS:
"As the state and the city of Minneapolis plan for the trial of Derek Chauvin, the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota expects public officials and law enforcement to make space for protest and to ensure that protest rights are respected," said ACLU-MN Chief Programs Officer Ben Feist.
"The right to protest is a fundamental right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and the First Amendment. Law enforcement’s main job in a protest is to protect the safety of protesters and to de-escalate any threat of violence.
"Last summer, we instead saw people who protested police violence and the murder of George Floyd be treated with police violence themselves. There is no room or tolerance for that escalation by police. In response, the ACLU of Minnesota sued law enforcement over its mistreatment of protesters and journalists. We also have longstanding concerns about the ever-increasing militarization of police.
"Our city and state officials should celebrate the fact that people are getting out in the streets and making their voices heard, voicing their dissent and creating change, rather than creating plans that preemptively view community members and future protesters as the enemy. As the trial nears, we expect that our elected officials will create a plan that respects the rights of a free press and of assembly before, during and after the trial of Derek Chauvin, and ensures that any enforcement is neither selective nor biased against BIPOC people, as is so often the case in our legal system."
https://www.aclu-mn.org/en/press-releases/aclu-mn-urges-respect-space-protesters-chauvin-trial-policing-plans
Voter ID laws are about suppressing turnout, period.
That’s why Minnesotans, who vote at a higher rate than anyone else in the country, already rejected this racist, anti-democratic policy.
STARTRIBUNE.COM
Minnesota's election law fight heats up over voter ID bill
ACLU of Minnesota
Yesterday at 11:11 AM ·
Excessive traffic fines and fees help create a criminal legal system where punishment is based on wealth, not public safety.
Separated families need immediate action.
MASHABLE.COM
ACLU launches virtual postcard initiative to support separated families
We see all over the country that simply legalizing marijuana is not enough to reduce huge racial disparities in drug-related arrests.
Legalization, when it comes in Minnesota, must be planned and implemented with a racial justice lens.
POLITICO.COM
The Half-Legal Cannabis Trap
Years ago, former Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachman warned that we needed to determine which members of Congress were pro-American and which were anti-American. Yesterday’s impeachment trial vote determined that. To paraphrase Justice Scalia: You can’t ride with insurrectionists and be pro-American.
ACLU of Minnesota
11 hrs ·
LAST CHANCE! Register for Lobby Week before 9 a.m. tomorrow to advocate to your lawmakers for:
🗽Reforming qualified immunity
🗽Banning facial recognition
🗽Decriminalizing poverty
REGISTER: https://action.aclu.org/lobby-week
Prosecutors can only serve the people effectively if there is transparency and accountability around their work.
Kudos to Ramsey County Attorney John Choi for hiring someone to review conviction and sentencing integrity in his office.
MINNLAWYER.COM
Choi hires conviction-review specialist
ACLU of Minnesota
Yesterday at 8:19 AM ·
Talk with local leaders about what to expect during the trial of former MPD officer Derek Chauvin.
Register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PDlMIuGIT8Ks-f8lwJRrvg
ACLU of Minnesota
February 21 at 7:42 AM ·
Black Minnesotans are almost 8 times more likely to be arrested for Marijuana than white people, even though we all use marijuana at about the same rate.
Make it legal. Make it equitable.
We know what prevents crime. It’s more resources and services. Not more police.
THEMARSHALLPROJECT.ORG
What Could Have Kept Me Out of Prison
ACLU of Minnesota
February 19 at 2:34 PM ·
Want to know what's up with the upcoming trial of Derek Chauvin? Check out this great informational forum on Feb. 24:
The pandemic has highlighted why abortion is healthcare, and why we must always treat it and talk about it as such.
THENATION.COM
As the Pandemic Raged, Abortion Access Nearly Flickered Out
Lots of talk about who is left out of the next phase of the vaccine plan, but not enough talk about one particularly vulnerable group: people incarcerated in Minnesota prisons.
STARTRIBUNE.COM
Health advocates warn Minnesota's COVID-19 vaccine priorities ignore high-risk individuals
ACLU of Minnesota
6 hrs ·
VICTORY! Hennepin County tried to prohibit people from generating noise, producing public art, holding posters or performing other forms of free speech in public spaces, including the People’s Plaza outside the government center.
These new restrictions do not accord with the First Amendment. In response to letters from us and allies including CUAPB, MN NLG, and CAIRMN, they are making changes!
We will keep watching to make sure those changes in comport with the First Amendment.
ACLU of Minnesota
March 3 at 8:35 AM ·
Minneapolis needs a new approach to public safety — one that keeps our communities safe and reduces the ability of the police to harm us.
Sign #ThePeoplesPetition and join the movement ➔ yes4minneapolis.org
ACLU of Minnesota
March 4 at 12:00 PM ·
Thanks to Minnesota State Representative John Thompson for talking with our volunteers yesterday about critical issues before the Legislature like police accountability, privacy, and decriminalizing poverty.
A big thanks also to our Lobby Week volunteers!
ACLU of Minnesota
March 4 at 4:10 PM ·
HF 614, which just passed out of the House Public Safety Committee, would lower the maximum sentence for a gross misdemeanor in Minnesota from 365 days to 364.
📺 Watch one Minnesotan, Nabony Merdassa, explain the difference a day can make.
VICTORY!
We worked with our friends at Root & Restore, BLM, the Racial Justice Network, Communities United Against Police Brutality and others to stop a bill that would have stifled protest in Saint Paul.
The bill was overly broad, unnecessary and especially dangerous for BIPOC communities who are already disproportionately harmed by criminalization, over-policing and police harassment.
TWINCITIES.COM
No shields, glass bottles, pointed sticks at protests? St. Paul Council prez to withdraw proposal
People in Minnesota jails and prisons getting sick and dying from COVID-19 is not something happening “over there,” removed from everyone else.
Prison staff leave every day and go home to their families.
People are released back into their communities.
We should care first about the humanity and dignity of people who are incarcerated. But we should also care about the public health consequences for all Minnesotans.
Our leaders can end this crisis by prioritizing people in prisons for vaccination.
KARE11.COM
Minnesota's prison system overwhelmed with COVID-19
This is a big victory for disability and immigrants' rights.
The Biden administration was right to end the "public charge" rule — it was blatantly discriminatory, promoting the false idea that people with disabilities don't contribute to our society.
CBSNEWS.COM
Biden administration stops enforcing Trump-era "public charge" green card restrictions following court order
ACLU of Minnesota
17 hrs ·
Instead of care and communication, our community has been met with barbed wire, concrete barricades, and prohibitions on certain forms of free speech.
These militarized “preparations” only escalate tensions and intimidate people from exercising their rights.
📸 Andy Mannix, Star Tribune: https://twitter.com/andrewmannix/status/1370087782421520384?s=21
ACLU of Minnesota updated their cover photo.
June 2, 2020 at 12:28 PM ·
ACLU of Minnesota
March 10 at 11:10 AM ·
Watch Nabony Merdassa talk about how our flawed fines and fees system can derail a person's life and prevent them from maintaining a job, finding housing, continuing education, or even maintaining a sense of normalcy — and what our bills would do about it.
We sued the City of Faribault seeking housing equity, because crime-free housing ordinances are tools of racial segregation, pure and simple.
THEAPPEAL.ORG
‘Crime-Free’ Housing Ordinances, Explained
We expect lots of protests and heavy police activity, and we want you to be empowered by knowledge while you're demanding justice for George Floyd.
ACLU-MN.ORG
Protesting for George Floyd? Know Your Rights
ACLU
18 hrs ·
To stop anti-Asian racism, we must all be in solidarity with each other.
ACLU of Minnesota
12 hrs ·
Following the murders of eight people – six of them Asian women – the ACLU of Minnesota has the following statement from Executive Director John Gordon:
“The horrific shootings last night come on the heels of a rapid increase in violent attacks against Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. We mourn with the victims, their loved ones and their community.
"We stand firmly united with our Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) friends. Asian Americans have faced discrimination throughout our nation’s history. Today, we join our AAPI neighbors, calling for an end to the hatred and intolerance that led to this moment.
"We must all work together to end the scapegoating and white supremacy that leads to violence like this. We cannot and will not stop fighting until all people and all communities are truly given the rights guaranteed to ‘We the People’ by our Constitution.”
#30#
Violence against Asian people is unacceptable. We mourn the victims of last night’s shooting in Atlanta, and we will fight for a world where our communities are truly safe from prejudice and hate.
NYTIMES.COM
8 People Killed in Atlanta-Area Massage Parlor Shootings
Last week, a group of hackers gained access to 150,000 cameras inside schools, hospitals, gyms, police stations, prisons, offices, and health clinics.
ACLU.ORG
Major Hack of Camera Company Offers Four Key Lessons on Surveillance
Over the last year, the criminal legal system’s many injustices dominated mainstream discourse as people took to the streets to grieve and protest.
Many were inspired to take action — including two activists we spoke with from the Youth Justice Coalition.
ACLU.ORG
Meet the Activists Fighting to Free People from LA Jails
Bills to exclude trans student athletes are based on bigotry, not science.
SCIENTIFICAMERICAN.COM
Trans Girls Belong on Girls’ Sports Teams
ACLU of Minnesota was live.
11 hrs ·
Gender Justice & ACLU MN Announce Settlement with Anoka-Hennepin School District
These state bills if passed could give religious organizations blanket immunity from all civil and criminal liability.
ACLU.ORG
A New String of State Bills Could Give Religious Organizations Blanket Immunity from Any Wrongdoing
The continuing denial of representation for DC residents is an overt act of voter suppression.
It is beyond time to rectify this by giving DC the true autonomy and self-governance that comes with statehood.
ACLU.ORG
Lack of Full Statehood Rights Continues to Cause Harm to D.C. Residents
ACLU
Yesterday at 3:43 PM ·
This morning, the House held a hearing on DC statehood: This shouldn't be complicated — it's time for a 51st state.
ACLU of Minnesota
Yesterday at 12:55 PM ·
Become an on-the-ground advocate for ending wealth-based punishment.
Register for our upcoming Fines and Fees Legislative Learning Session: https://www.aclu-mn.org/en/events/legislative-learning-session-fines-and-fees
ACLU
Yesterday at 3:21 AM ·
Alabama. Arkansas. Missouri. Montana. Tennessee.
Each of these states are voting to criminalize or flat-out ban health care for trans youth. Now is the time to be loud and stop these bills. Trans youth BELONG.
