Tag: ACLU

ACLU Guide Urges Advocacy for People with Disabilities on Probation and Parole

Stuart Mitchell

The American Civil Liberties Union released a guide recently, outlining steps that defense attorneys can take to ensure people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to successfully complete probation and parole. “Reducing Barriers: A Guide to Obtaining Reasonable Accommodations for People with Disabilities on Supervision” highlights significant barriers that people with disabilities face to navigating their supervision requirements, including difficulties understanding their supervision obligations, effectively communicating with their supervision officer, attending frequent meetings, completing mandated treatment programs, maintaining employment, and keeping track of all these requirements. The guide also offers…

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Human Rights Advocates Urge Congress to Support Establishment of a National Human Rights Institution

Stuart Mitchell

A coalition of civil and human rights and social justice groups recently officially announced their campaign for a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) in the U.S. as they briefed Congress on the recent United Nations review of the United States’ record under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). During the Congressional briefing, advocates discussed key issues of concern raised by the UN Human Rights Committee, including reproductive rights, voting rights, and criminal legal system issues. The briefing also examined strategies for improving the government’s implementation of its…

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Busy Philipps Named as ACLU Artist Ambassador for Reproductive Freedom

Stuart Mitchell

The American Civil Liberties Union announced that Busy Philipps — New York Times bestselling author, actor, activist, and writer — will join the organization’s Artist Ambassador Program to advocate for reproductive freedom. This follows years of on-the-ground advocacy, from working with the ACLU in states like Ohio in the successful ballot measure to protect reproductive freedom in the state’s constitution to lobbying with the ACLU for the successful passage of Pregnant Workers Fairness Act in Congress, and calling other artists and entertainers into action to protect bodily autonomy. Philipps formally…

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ACLU Supports Bill to Block Book Bans

Stuart Mitchell

The American Civil Liberties Union thanks Rep. Maxwell Frost for introducing H.R. 6592, the Fight Book Bans Act. This legislation would fight censorship by enabling the Department of Education to provide grants to school districts to cover expenses incurred when they fight off book bans. In a letter sent to the House of Representatives, the ACLU is urging House members to co-sponsor the bill. Over the past year, more than 3,000 books have been banned in schools across America. These books disproportionately feature stories about LGBTQ+ communities, people of color,…

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Members of Congress Join Rights Groups in Urging White House to Study Creating National Human Rights Institution

Stuart Mitchell

Nine members of Congress are joining a broad coalition of civil and human rights groups led by the American Civil Liberties Union in urging the Biden administration to establish a presidential commission to study the creation of a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) in the United States to monitor and promote human rights. In letters sent to President Biden ahead of the second Summit for Democracy, the members of Congress and the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies (IAOHRA) stress the importance of a National Human Rights Institution to…

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