News & Commentary

The ACLU works to ensure that the U.S. government complies with universal human rights principles in addition to the U.S. Constitution. Global human rights protection strategies are used to complement existing ACLU advocacy on national security, racial justice and the rights of immigrants, children and women targeted by discrimination.

In the United States, no other criminal justice policies show more racially disparate impacts than that of drug law enforcement. Since the “war on drugs” began, efforts to end punitive drug policies that cause the widespread violation of constitutional and human rights has been needed to address the root cause of unprecedented levels of incarceration. Nationally, the ACLU works on marijuana law reform, the disparate impact of crack versus cocaine sentencing disparities, drug testing laws, and search and seizure policies.

Today the ACLU of Wisconsin will testify against SB 6, a bill that would require every eligible voter to show a photo ID each time they cast a ballot in a state election. While proponents of this bill say it will fix vote fraud, the state Senate Committee on Transportation and Elections will hear from voters and advocates who will testify on why the plan will have a discriminatory impact on minorities and will be a costly and ineffective attempt to prevent fraud.

There has never been a more urgent need to preserve fundamental privacy protections and our system of checks and balances than the need we face today, as illegal government spying and government-sponsored torture programs transcend the bounds of law in the name of national security. The ACLU's National Security Project (NSP) advocates for national security policies that are consistent with the Constitution, the rule of law, and fundamental human rights.

The ACLU established its National Prison Project in 1972 and is the only national litigation program on behalf of prisoners. The ACLU continues to fight unconstitutional conditions and the "lock 'em up" mentality that prevails in the legislatures. The action on behalf of prisoners’ rights include addressing conditions of confinement, immigrant detention, lack of physical and mental health care, over-incarceration (including skyrocketing incarceration rates, the impact of truth-in-sentencing and racial disparities), restriction of many constitutional rights (including freedom of religion), and the needs of women in prison.

Looking for information about the rights of activists during demonstrations? Download a copy of the ACLU of Wisconsin bust card or read the guidelines for legal observers published by the National Lawyers’ Guild. Each year, the ACLU of Wisconsin trains volunteer legal observers to be witnesses to law enforcement activity at protests. For more information on ACLU legal observers, please contactliberty@aclu-wi.org. 

The death penalty is the ultimate denial of civil liberties. To date, 135 inmates were found to be innocent and released from death row. The ACLU Capital Punishment Project is fighting for the end of the death penalty by supporting moratorium and repeal movements through public education and advocacy. We are engaged in systemic reform of the death penalty process, and case-specific litigation highlighting some of its fundamental flaws.

No one should be deprived of their basic constitutional protections of equality, privacy or free expression because they have HIV or AIDS. The ACLU AIDS Project fights to eliminate discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS in all aspects of society, including employment, housing and public accommodations. We also work to ensure that people can make informed decisions about HIV testing and treatment, and to challenge government responses to HIV that reflect prejudice rather than scientific principles.

Parents are the best advocates for the quality of their children’s education. The new comprehensive sexuality education law has provisions for parents to ask questions about sex ed classes, curriculum and teachers at their school. The attached questions are for parents to ask their children’s school leadership about how they are complying with the new, higher standards for comprehensive sexuality education.