News & Commentary

The American Civil Liberties Union today asked a federal district court to bolster access to the ballot for Wisconsin voters by permitting more types of acceptable identification for voting, and by allowing people who have difficulty obtaining identification to vote by affidavit.

By ADAM LIPTAK

by Julianne Hing

When the Supreme Court refused to accept a challenge to Wisconsin’s voter ID law, allowing it to go into effect, voting rights groups in the state sounded the alarm that voters would be disenfranchised if the state rushed to implement the law by the April 7 municipal election.

On March 24, 2015 a panel of the Milwaukee Board of Fire and Police Commissioners (FPC) sustained Chief Edward Flynn’s decision to terminate former Milwaukee police officer Christopher Manney.  Manney is a white officer who shot and killed an African-American man, Dontre Hamilton, on April 30, 2014 in Red Arrow Park. The commissioners determined that Manney violated department rules and training when he frisked Dontre Hamilton prior to shooting him.  The ACLU of Wisconsin believes the commissioners’ decision was correct.  But it is only a first step among several needed to improve the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD). 

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday turned away a challenge to Wisconsin's voter identification law, allowing the law to stand and handing a victory to Gov. Scott Walker following a long fight by opponents who say it's a thinly veiled attempt to make it more difficult for Democratic backers to vote.

By Richard Wolf

March 18, 2015

The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin, along with 11 other community organizations and leaders, have asked for greater public input and transparency in the confirmation process for nominees to the Milwaukee Board of Fire and Police Commissioners. We believe that regardless of the nominee, the FPC will be better able to carry out its important oversight and auditing functions if the nomination process enhances public confidence in the Commission.   The text of the letter sent to the Common Council's President and Public Safety Committee Chair is below.