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The Supreme Court will soon hear arguments in a case that will decide whether nearly half of Oklahoma is legally an Indian Reservation. The Court's decision could have massive implications for tribal sovereignty, along with many other Native issues that are impacted by jurisdictional power. This week, At Liberty was joined by Rebecca Nagle, an activist, writer, artist, and citizen of the Cherokee Nation, whose Crooked Media narrative podcast, "This Land" explains the process by which native people in Oklahoma lost their land and the court case that could help restore it. This live discussion took place at the Brooklyn Public Library's Night of Philosophy and Ideas.
Listen here → |
By ACLU Staff
February 6, 2020
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The world is watching anxiously to see what happens with the coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China. As scientists and public health officials in the U.S. learn more about the virus, it is important that public policymaking remain firmly centered around science. Unfortunately, our history of reactions to infectious disease outbreaks suggests we're likely to see strong pressure to the contrary. The job of our political leaders is to solicit and follow the guidance of public health experts in crafting a calm and rational response to an outbreak, to help the public understand the scientific facts, and to present an honest appraisal of risk and the limits of human power to curb nature. Trump and his administration have a terrible record when it comes to listening to scientists. Yet the more dangerous an actual outbreak, the more important it is that our authorities respond with cool heads and based on science, and not intrude any more than strictly necessary on people's civil liberties. Read more → |
By Jay Stanley
January 28, 2020
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| PROTECTING THE BALLOT BOX |
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Voting should be as easy and convenient as possible, and in many cases it is. But across the U.S., too many politicians are passing measures making it harder to cast a ballot. Suppression efforts range from the seemingly unobstructive, like voter ID laws and cuts to early voting, to mass purges of voter rolls and systemic disenfranchisement. Here, we take a look at some of the most rampant methods of voter suppression across the country – and the advocacy and litigation efforts aimed at protecting our fundamental right to vote. Read more → |
By Leila Rafei
February 3, 2020
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Across the country, people are forced to surrender bail money to pay future debts before they're ever convicted of a crime. In places such as Nashville, Tennessee, anyone trying to post bail on behalf of a friend, loved one, or community member must agree that the money posted is subject to garnishment for any future debts assessed in the case. In other words, anyone paying cash bail must agree that the defendant's court costs, fines, fees, or restitution can be deducted from their deposit. These policies prevent organizations such as the Nashville Community Bail Fund from continuing their vital work. This week, we sued in federal court to stop this unconstitutional practice and ensure that bail funds across the country are allowed to keep working, uninhibited by government officials' attempts to turn cash bail deposits into a revenue stream. Read more → |
By Andrea Woods
February 5, 2020
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More than forty years ago, Congress gave the executive branch a set of exceptional surveillance powers to pursue foreign spies on U.S. soil. Now, the government is increasingly relying on those powers to advance ordinary domestic criminal investigations. In recent years, the government has relied on Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to deploy an array of novel and intrusive surveillance techniques – implicating the privacy rights of countless Americans who have never been suspected of any crime. We're calling on the courts and Congress to do their part to ensure that Americans' rights are protected. Read more → |
By Ashley Gorski and Patrick Toomey
February 5, 2020
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Last month, U.S. Customs and Border Protection adamantly denied that it was detaining U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents of Iranian descent and interrogating them about their religion and political views. The agency also assured the public that it had not issued any directive related to the detentions and interrogations. There was already strong reason to question CBP's denials, but now, we have even more reason to think CBP lied. Last Thursday, a local Washington paper published a leaked CBP directive that instructs officers to target and detain travelers based on their national origin and to interrogate them about their religious background and beliefs. The leaked directive continues a broader pattern of CBP misconduct that ranges from humiliating and harassing to cruel, inhumane, and lawless. We will continue to hold CBP accountable and demand that Congress investigate CBP abuses. In the meantime, it is critical for all travelers – U.S. citizens, legal residents, and visitors – to know and assert their rights when crossing the border. Read more → |
By Scarlet Kim and Hugh Handeyside
February 3, 2020
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Trump's Muslim ban, which the U.S. Supreme Court allowed to go into full effect in December 2017, has already devastated people in the U.S. and across the world: families separated, weddings postponed, and lives uprooted. Now, Trump has added six additional countries to this unconstitutional ban, expanding this overreach of discriminatory power. This is why Congress must pass the NO BAN Act, which Speaker Pelosi has already announced will be moving forward. With the NO BAN Act, Congress has the opportunity to right the administration's, and the Supreme Court's, wrong, and prevent Trump from harming more communities. Read more → |
By Jennifer Stisa Granick
January 23, 2020
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