The RI Legislative Session is on April break. This is a great time to review where bills are in the process of becoming law and send your legislators a message about what YOU want to see pass this year.
Check out our legislative dashboard: www.riaclu.org/legislative-...
It’s 4/20, you know what that means: It’s time to read our Know Your Rights FAQ about marijuana use in RI! www.riaclu.org/know-your-rights/know-yo...
In case you missed it: We published an op-ed in the Rhode Island Current about automated license plate reader cameras!
Unregulated police surveillance is not, and never will be, a pathway to community safety.
We will continue to fight against these unlawful and cruel restrictions that hurt our communities, in Rhode Island and beyond.
Read more here: www.riaclu.org/news/ricadv-...
BREAKING: A second court victory today against the Trump Administration! We just blocked the federal government's most recent attempt to restrict funding for orgs that support survivors of domestic and sexual violence!
At the hearing, the DOJ's attorney failed to justify why they needed this information and acknowledged it would be shared with the Department of Homeland Security. Providing the data could also be used to create an unauthorized national voter database, and would be more vulnerable to hackers.
BREAKING VICTORY: Agreeing with arguments we made in court last month, a RI judge just dismissed the Dept. of Justice’s attempt to obtain Rhode Islanders’ sensitive voter data, including drivers’ license and social security numbers.
This is a huge win for data privacy and voters' rights.
As immigrants in our communities continue to be targeted and deported, it’s more important than ever that Rhode Island closes a loophole between state and federal law that can cause legal residents who have been here for decades to face automatic deportation for the simplest misdemeanors.
PASSED: Yesterday, the RI House passed the student computer privacy bill for the fourth year in a row! (H7032, S2786)
Now the bill just needs to get out of Senate Education committee, and through the Senate.
SUPPORT: H7195, S2158
This bill would require parental notification and involvement before youth can be questioned by law enforcement.
In RI, kids can't be questioned by police alone in school, this legislation would ensure kids and teens have appropriate adult support outside of school, too.
SUPPORT: RI Voting Rights Act (H8334, S3143)
This bill would prevent voter discrimination and suppression by enshrining much of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 into state law.
As voting rights are under attack at the federal level, it’s imperative we take proactive action locally!
SUPPORT: H7818
This bill would prohibit family court from detaining or imprisoning kids 12 years or younger at the training school, which is essentially a juvenile prison. Only exceptions: Serious offenses like murder.
Kids don’t belong in prison.
This week at the RI State House we’re supporting bills for justice reform, kids, and voters. 🧵
Send in testimony in SUPPORT of these bills (H7032 + S2786) before 3pm today, Wednesday, April 8.
House Committee on Innovation, Internet, & Technology: HouseInnovationInternetandTechnology@rilegislature.gov
Senate Committee on Education: SLegislation@rilegislature.gov
This unfortunately has happened in PA, where a school official watched a student sleep in his bedroom through his school-loaned computer.
This bill would help prevent this from ever happening in RI.
Read our testimony on this bill: www.riaclu.org/legislation/...
SUPPORT: H7032 + S2786
This legislation would protect students’ privacy by putting no-brainer limitations on when school officials can turn on the cameras and microphones on school-loaned computers.
Currently, officials can potentially access school-loaned computers even when students are at home.
Nobody should be afraid of seeking essential health care because they might be tracked or surveilled.
Read our latest article about two important bills in the RI Legislative Session that could limit how data about you can be used to infer specific personal health care decisions!
A heartfelt thank you for your support during 401Gives!
We know our legal and educational work to defend civil liberties in Rhode Island (like yesterday's victory to protect federal housing grants!) would not be possible without your generosity.
Thank you to everyone who has donated so far! We’re in the last hour and only 14 away from 100 donors, will you help us get there?
Our 401Gives campaign is still going strong! We’re at 69 donors — help us get to 100 donors by 6pm: www.401gives.org/organization...
This is another important victory against the Trump administration's attack on a fair grant process (in a separate case from yesterday's decision) and we're ready for the next one. www.riaclu.org/news/appeals...
BREAKING: A federal appeals court just ruled to protect funding for proven solutions to homelessness by refusing to remove a block on the federal government's unlawful restrictions on funding.
This victory is another major step in the ongoing fight to ensure the federal government cannot hold life-saving funding hostage to political whims!
Help us get to 100 donors before 6pm tonight: www.401gives.org/organization...
The restrictions, which have been ruled unlawful, would have prevented so-called “sanctuary jurisdictions” from being able to receive federal housing funds, as well as cities or states that provide “harm reduction” services or don’t criminalize public camping.
Read more about this decision ⬇️
VICTORY: A RI judge ruled late yesterday that the Trump administration violated the law in attempting to limit who has access to federal housing funds based on an ideological, partisan agenda.
Photo of dachshund dog laying on a bed with a photoshopped ACLU red and blue hat on, and a well-loved pocket constitution to the dog's right. ACLU Foundation of RI and 40Gives logos are below. Black text above the dog says: "This is Ralphie. Ralphie knows the ACLU of RI has been showing up for Rhode Islanders across the state for 67 (human) years and that their work is more essential to preserving our democracy than ever."
We would do anything for Ralphie.
Here’s a link to our 401Gives page, if you want to support our work: www.401gives.org/organizations/aclu-of-rh...
Donation Request: I'm in my 2nd board term for ACLU RI very grateful for services we provide to the community. Consider making a donation in any amount to support & show that this work is needed and appreciated. Thank you!
www.401gives.org/p2p/648361/y...
#401Gives #ACLURI @riaclu.bsky.social
Every week, we’re monitoring civil liberties issues (like privacy!) across the state, and mobilizing people in their communities to stand up for their rights, for wins like this one in January ⬇️
Help us continue this work by making a donation during 401Gives: www.401gives.org/organization...
On this Trans Day of Visibility and every day, we're unwavering in our commitment to fight for the future we deserve.
This means being free to travel, access health care, take up space, play sports, and be our authentic selves without government interference — full stop.
