News & Commentary

The ACLU of Wisconsin calls on Governor Walker to withdraw Wisconsin National Guard support of family-separation operations along the U.S.-Mexico border. Several other governors, including Republican governors in Maryland and Massachusetts, have withdrawn their troops in protest against the Trump administration's policy of separating children from their parents at the border.The following statement may be attributed to ACLU of Wisconsin executive director Chris Ott:“The treatment of parents and children that has come to light at our border has deeply troubled people across the country and in Wisconsin. We need to bring this to an end, not support it.This makes it hard to understand Governor Walker's decision to send members of the Wisconsin National Guard to assist in this misguided operation. We ask Governor Walker to rethink this, and not to force our troops to participate in such a cruel and controversial program.We also encourage people to call Governor Walker’s office to demand an end to support for family separations. Please call 608-266-1212 between 8am and 5pm.”

The Supreme Court today issued rulings in two partisan gerrymandering cases: Gill v. Whitford and Benisek v. Lamone. The American Civil Liberties Union filed briefs in both cases supporting the challengers to partisan gerrymandering. 

Another video of the Milwaukee Police Department officers involved in the arrest of Milwaukee Bucks player Sterling Brown was released today, highlighting the officers’ plans to defend their inappropriate treatment of Brown

It can seem like all our troubles started when Donald Trump became President, and certainly, some of them did.But the abuses of immigrants that the ACLU uncovered recently just showed an extreme version of the way that the United States has treated immigrants—or even just people who somebody else thinks is an immigrant—for much too long.The

The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin has hired Milwaukee native Sean Wilson as its Smart Justice statewide organizer.  Sean is an activist who grew up in Milwaukee’s 53206 neighborhood.  As a formerly incarcerated person, Sean knows all too well the outcome of poor decisions – and has made a vow to advocate for justice, and also teach young people how to problem solve and create better conditions for themselves.

 In 4th grade, I was nearing the end of the school year, and I had decided to wear my favorite pair of bright purple shorts to school. As I headed to class, I was pulled aside by my teacher. She asked me, “Honey, do you have a change of clothing in your locker?” Like any nine year-old girl would, I looked at her in confusion. I didn’t understand what the problem was. As a teenager, I now see that my prepubescent body wearing shorts on a hot day was, in her perception, a “taboo”. This was the first of many times that I would be taken aside and later even pulled out of class for wearing “inappropriate” or “provocativ

 Students will need to arrange to be at Marquette University (building and room to be announced) by 10 am every day of the Summer Justice Institute.  There may be transportation leaving from Urban Underground. Please let us know if you would want to leave and return from there. Bus passes for public transportation may be provided if needed. Lunch will be provided every day for students, please note in the attached permission forms if your child has any dietary restrictions.  Students will be released at 4 pm each day and are responsible for arranging transportation home.Find the application in the below PDF.  You can email the application back to edetorre@aclu-wi.org. 

Because of concern for resegregation of Milwaukee’s public schools, this week I attended a meeting of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors on behalf of ACLU. Over the years I have been to many such meetings when the MPS Board has considered matters that affect the opportunity for an integrated education.  This week’s consideration of cutting or limiting bussing to the schools that were established in the late 1970’s and early 80’s to encourage voluntary integration was both encouraging and at the same time sobering.  The outpouring of support for integrated education was poignant and heart felt.  Parents, teachers, principals, and students testified about the diversity and inclusiveness that they fear they would lose if the district decided not to continue providing transportation to MPS specialty schools.  They testified about how the future of the French, German, Spanish and Italian immersion schools and the languages high school hangs in the balance.  Restricting support for children whose parents could not afford or provide transportation would lead to declined enrollment.  Decline in enrollment will reduce funds that support these highly successful schools.  Schools that attract students from Milwaukee’s suburbs as far away as West Bend would be weakened.