Through the Lens of Liberty: The ACLU’s Year in Photos

As Donald Trump started his second presidential term, 2025 began with a lot of uncertainty. However, the ACLU was ready to protect the civil liberties of individuals around the country, as we had done hundreds of times during Trump’s first term. This year saw many wins, setbacks, and enduring battles over issues like immigrants rights, trans justice, and the right to vote. As we look back on a pivotal year, join us in remembering the many moments captured on camera that defined 2025 at the ACLU.

Trump’s second administration immediately began targeting immigrant communities around the country by carrying out inhumane civilian seizures and pushing legislation that would strip individuals of their legal status. The ACLU’s “Letters to America” campaign aimed to spotlight that the individuals affected by these policies are regular people, parents and children seeking safety and opportunity.

More moments from the month: We kept individuals informed on the flurry of executive orders signed by the president during that time, as well as how they affect sex discrimination, DEI and accessibility efforts, and birthright citizenship.

As part of our continued advocacy for trans rights amidst mounting political attacks, we commenced our Freedom To Be campaign, a multifaceted effort spotlighting trans joy along with trans and ally voices around the country. Among these efforts was the Freedom to Be monument, a quilt composed of hundreds of squares by artists celebrating trans resilience, community, and joy. Participants were welcome to join the ACLU at the Brooklyn Museum to craft their quilt panels and share stories.

More moments from the month: We showcased multiple immigrants’ rights activists in a web series combatting Trump’s anti-immigrant attacks.

We sponsored and participated in this year’s Selma Jubilee, which celebrated the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama to support civil rights. Activists endured brutal attacks by law enforcement during the march, but the event helped introduce and usher along the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Since then, a similar march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge takes place annually to honor past civil rights trailblazers, especially as voting access faces continued legal attacks. We also helped to inform readers about Trump’s attacks on the Department of Education and emphasized the importance of state and local authorities in the fight for our civil liberties.

The Trump administration’s unconstitutional abduction and threats to deport several students for voicing their opinions was a blatant affront to our First Amendment freedoms. But the ACLU and partners fought back against these unlawful seizures in court and helped to ensure that these brave individuals — Mahmoud Khalil, Rümeysa Öztürk, and Mohsen Mahdawi — were released and reunited with their families.

More moments from the month: We spotlit volunteers who work to ensure that detained immigrants know their rights.

The ACLU unveiled its Freedom To Be monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in May. Inspired by the AIDS Memorial Quilt, the sprawling installation, made up of hundreds of quilt squares, spelled out the words “Freedom To Be, and celebrated trans resilience. Observers were welcomed to wander along the mall, and admire the individual quilt squares made by trans artists, activists, and allies.

More moments from the month: We amplified the voices of undocumented immigrants around the country enduring attacks from the Trump administration, and highlighted key Supreme Court cases happening in the coming months.

Pride Month and the consequential SCOTUS case U.S. v. Skrmetti put LGBTQ rights front and center. And though the decision on the case was a blow to gender-affirming care access, the ACLU remained steadfast in its support of trans rights through advocacy, court battles, and reflections on past legal battles that shaped LGBTQ rights.

Since his first day back in office, Trump has sought to end birthright citizenship — the constitutional right to citizenship of children born in the United States. The ACLU and partners swiftly sued to block Trump’s attempts, but the legal battle has continued throughout the year, and may soon be heading to the Supreme Court. During the summer, the ACLU continued to advocate for this legal right, by keeping supporters informed about the evolving issue, and filing a class action lawsuit.

The Trump administration continued its unprecedented aggression against immigrant communities, by creating several immigration detention facilities that fly in the face of proper approval channels and due process protocols. The ACLU quickly took action by highlighting the unconstitutionality of these widespread detention measures and making sure that the rights of U.S. immigrants remained on people’s minds.

The president took further authoritarian action in September by deploying hundreds of D.C. National Guard troops federal law enforcement agents to patrol DC’s streets. The ACLU was quick to call out that federal troops do not belong on our streets and that their role isn’t to be Trump’s personal policing power.

More moments from the month: We spotlit the country’s spreading censorship problem and began a series celebrating books that help readers understand civil liberties and civil rights.

For the second time this year, communities around the country took to the streets for No Kings National Day of Action to call out the Trump administration’s abuses of power and advocate for our inalienable rights. The ACLU was a crucial partner in these nationwide actions, providing live coverage throughout the day, and making sure that protestors knew their rights before taking action.

More moments from the month: We amplified that the mounting pressure and censorship of late night television hosts like Jimmy Kimmel are blatantly unconstitutional — and got a few friends to cosign.

Along with partners Ben & Jerry’s, YOLA Mezcal, and Gabriela Hearst, the ACLU hosted Creatives For Freedom at Pioneer Works in Brooklyn. The event brought together artists including Maggie Rogers, Sheryl Crow, St. Vincent, and Mark Ronson to celebrate the ACLU’s ongoing civil liberties initiatives and to urge attendees to get involved.