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03/21/2013
Racial Discrimination

South Dakota Parents and Tribes File Lawsuit Over Unlawful Separation of Children From Families

By Vesna Jaksic, ACLU at 12:46pm

In South Dakota, Indian children are regularly removed from their homes without parents being permitted to...

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12/01/2011
STPP

Overzealous School Discipline Keeps Students out of the Classroom

By Vesna Jaksic, ACLU at 6:47pm

The Washington Post ran a great editorial Tuesday pointing out how schools frequently overreact to misbehaving students, and why the resulting loss in classroom time does not lead to better behavior, nor improved school safety.

The editorial references a new report on promoting positive solutions to school discipline, which found that more than 90,500 students were suspended or expelled from a Virginia school in 2010-2011. Most suspensions and expulsions resulted from minor misbehavior, such as disorderly classroom conduct or misuse of electronics. The editorial pointed out the harsh impact of such unnecessary disciplinary measures:

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11/09/2012
Voting Rights Act

ACLU Lens: U.S. Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Voting Rights Act Case

By Vesna Jaksic, ACLU at 4:41pm

The U.S. Supreme Court today agreed to review a case that challenges the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act, which has been a crucial tool for protecting the minority vote and ensuring equal access to the ballot box.

The court agreed to hear Shelby County v. Holder, which involves Shelby County, Ala. The ACLU intervened in the case in order to represent minority voters and the state NAACP chapter, and protect the right to vote.

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08/30/2012
Voter ID

ACLU Lens: Federal Court Blocks Texas Voter ID Law

By Vesna Jaksic, ACLU at 2:46pm

A federal court today struck Texas’s discriminatory voter ID law, which would have prevented many eligible citizens from exercising their fundamental right to vote. 

The ACLU had intervened in the case in order to represent individuals and organizations who would be negatively impacted, and protect the right to vote. Today’s decision by a three-judge Washington, D.C. panel comes at a time when the right to vote is under attack nationwide.

“By blocking this law, the court reaffirmed the right of all people in this country to participate in our democracy,” said Nancy Abudu, senior staff attorney with the ACLU Voting Rights Project, which intervened in the case along with the ACLU of Texas.

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03/01/2012
H.B. 56

ACLU Tells Appeals Court Georgia, Alabama Anti-Immigrant Laws Spark a Climate of Fear

By Vesna Jaksic, ACLU at 8:45pm

Alabama and Georgia’s anti-immigrant laws are meant to force immigrants out of the country by making their lives miserable and could violate all residents’ fundamental civil rights.

Those were among the arguments raised today by attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights groups during a highly anticipated court hearing in Atlanta. The attorneys presented their case in front of a three-judge panel in a packed courtroom at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta.

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11/15/2011
H.B. 56

Some Families Flee, Others Stay Behind and Live in Fear

By Vesna Jaksic, ACLU at 4:50pm

During a visit to Alabama last week, many families told me that they now live in constant fear and are scared to go to work, school or the grocery store.

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11/14/2011
H.B. 56

For a Pioneering Jurist, Alabama Anti-Immigrant Law Is Spark for a New Civil Rights Struggle

By Vesna Jaksic, ACLU at 5:35pm

Retired federal judge U. W. Clemon has seen great advancement of civil rights in Alabama, but is very concerned about their present state.

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01/29/2013
Immigration and Customs Enforcement

ACLU Lens: ACLU Responds to President’s Immigration Announcement

By Vesna Jaksic, ACLU at 4:18pm

The ACLU welcomed President Obama’s announcement earlier today to prioritize federal immigration reform, and stressed the need for a common-sense system that is fair, just and respects everyone’s civil liberties.

The president’s speech in Las Vegas came shortly after a bi-partisan group of senators – ‘the Gang of Eight’ – put forth its proposal. The ACLU has released a framework for immigration reform, which urges policymakers to ensure a crucial set of priorities is adopted in order to ensure people’s civil rights are protected.

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08/21/2012
Anti-Immigrant Laws

ACLU Lens: Federal Court Ruled Alabama Can’t Check Students' Immigration Status

By Vesna Jaksic, ACLU at 11:18am

Alabama’s outrageous attempt to deny some immigrant children their right to education is among the provisions that was rejected Monday by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. The Atlanta-based court also blocked other harmful parts of Alabama and Georgia’s anti-immigrant laws, including those that attempted to criminalize everyday actions with undocumented immigrants.

But the court left room for narrow implementation of certain ‘show me your papers’ provisions, which the ACLU and a civil rights coalition will continue to fight against.

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11/06/2012
Election 2012: Let Me Vote

Go Vote!

By Vesna Jaksic, ACLU at 10:26am

Today is Election Day – an opportunity to exercise your right to vote, one of your most basic and cherished rights as an American. So wherever you live and whatever your political views, this is the time to have your say and participate in our democracy.

A lot is at stake this year, so please be sure to make your voice heard. You’ll not only be choosing our nation’s president, but you may also be selecting your U.S. Senators and Representatives. And in 46 states, you’ll also be electing state legislators, who have a huge say about your fundamental rights and issues that affect you every day. Here are some resources to help you cast a ballot:

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