ACLU, THE DEBRIEF: The Constitutional Crisis in Portland, Explained, Trump Administration Continues to Dismantle DACA Protections, Victory in Federal Court Over TN Abortion Ban, Trump Vs. Trans Rights: An Update, David Cole: If Trump Tries to Stay Despite Losing the Election…, Now Playing: "The Fight", At Liberty Podcast: Talking to the Directors of "Crip Camp", Prosecutors Disappoint During COVID: Lessons Learned, Tell Congress You Support Emergency Rent Relief 8AUG20

The Constitutional Crisis in Portland, Explained ACLU of Oregon's Communications Associate Doug Brown writes from the front lines: "I've been documenting violent and militarized police responses to protests in Portland for more than four years, but nothing prepared me for the unrestrained brutality I've witnessed and experienced in recent days." Here's how federal law enforcement has attempted to silence the protests, and what we're doing about it with your help. Read more

FROM THE FRONT LINES

Trump Administration Continues to Dismantle DACA Protections Earlier this summer, the Supreme Court rejected Donald Trump's unconstitutional efforts to dismantle DACA. Despite that ruling from the highest court, the administration is continuing to undermine our government's vow to protect immigrants who were brought to America as young children from deportation. With your support, the ACLU will continue to fight on behalf of Dreamers. Read more (This link brings you to a third-party website, politico.com) Victory in Federal Court Over TN Abortion Ban In a big win for the people of Tennessee, a federal district court ruled that safe and legal abortions can continue while we fight the state's irresponsible ban of the procedure at nearly every stage of pregnancy. Anjali Dalal, senior staff attorney at the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project, calls the ban "an unconstitutional violation of the right to abortion, rooted in misogyny and racism." Read more Trump Vs. Trans Rights: An Update Almost from the very beginning of his presidency, Donald Trump has attempted to turn back the clock on civil rights for transgender people. His latest move: allowing homeless shelters to turn away trans people due to their gender identity. This comes after similar efforts to make life infinitely more difficult for trans people in schools, prisons, and public spaces. Read more (This link brings you to a third-party website, nytimes.com) David Cole: If Trump Tries to Stay Despite Losing the Election… Unfortunately, it's time to start planning for the possible eventuality: What happens if Donald Trump loses the election but tries to remain in power? ACLU's National Legal Director David Cole answers that question and many others in an interview with Salon. Read more (This link brings you to a third-party website, salon.com)

TUNE IN

Now Playing: "The Fight" MSNBC's Chris Hayes calls it "a gorgeous, enraging, and uplifting film." Watch the new Kerry Washington-produced documentary about the ACLU's battles against the Trump administration and its allies. Rent it through this site and part of the proceeds will go to fuel our ongoing work to protect civil liberties. Watch now (This link brings you to a third-party website, fightthefilm.com)

At Liberty Podcast: Talking to the Directors of "Crip Camp" It was thirty years ago this summer that the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law, improving access for and blocking discrimination against people with disabilities. The directors of a new documentary on Netflix explain the often-overlooked civil liberties movement that led to the ADA and the obstacles that millions of people still face. Listen here

WHAT'S NEXT

Prosecutors Disappoint During COVID: Lessons Learned In a series of articles, we take a look at the ways in which the legal system failed to keep those under its care safe from the COVID-19 pandemic. This in-depth analysis of the 20 biggest cities in America, and how their prosecutors acted in the face of a health crisis, can yield valuable lessons for the future. Read more

TAKE ACTION

Tell Congress You Support Emergency Rent Relief The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a pre-existing crisis in housing affordability and made it a thousand times worse. With so many jobs lost and unemployment assistance running out, one in five renters in the U.S. will be at risk of eviction by the end of September unless we act now. Speak up and be heard: Congress needs to take action. Take action

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