President-Elect Biden’s Reproductive Freedom To-Do List

After four years of attacks on our reproductive rights and health by the Trump administration and the anti-abortion legislators it has emboldened around the country, there is much to repair. When President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris take office, their administration must make it a top priority to not just undo the damage, but to take bold, visionary steps to make reproductive health care — including abortion — accessible to all, regardless of their income or ZIP code. Congress, too, has a key role to play in ensuring that everyone is afforded the dignity to make our own decisions about our lives.Here are just a few of the many items that should top our elected officials’ to-do list:Reverse dangerous Trump administration regulations targeting reproductive health care, including:

Supporters of abortion-rights attend a reproductive freedom rally at state capitol in Nebraska, holding ACLU signs that read "We will be heard" and "abortion is healthcare."

A Change in Administration Is Just A Starting Point For LGBTQ Justice

James Esseks, Director, LGBTQ & HIV Project, ACLU

James Esseks speaking outside the Supreme Court.

Securing Tenants’ Right to Counsel is Critical to Fighting Mass Evictions

Ian S. Thompson, Senior Legislative Advocate, ACLU

Protestors hold aloft a saying HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT at a protest in New York City, September 2, 2020

The Affordable Care Act — and With It, Our Civil Rights — Are Under Attack

Louise Melling, Deputy Legal Director and Director of Ruth Bader Ginsburg Center for Liberty, ACLU

Ask

Affordable Care Act Supporter waves sign that reads "ACA is here to stay" outside of the Supreme Court.

Putting Rap Lyrics on Trial is a Violation of Free Speech

Emerson Sykes, Staff Attorney, ACLU Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project

Silhouette of a rapper onstage with bright stage light and smoke in the background.

Democracy Persists

Anthony D. Romero, ACLU Executive Director

Toda

Democracy persists.

Racial Justice Demands That Every Vote Is Counted

As President Trump’s path to reelection narrows, his campaign has pursued legal challenges in battleground states. These challenges involve attempts to stop or challenge the vote counting process. Because of the record number of mail-in ballots cast during the pandemic, the votes affected by these last-ditch inquests are disproportionately those of mail-in ballots.

Demonstrators carrying a banner with the text "Count Every Vote" spelled out in LED bulbs.

Criminal Justice Reform Takes Another Big, Messy Step Forward in 2020 Elections

Criminal justice reform was a key issue in Tuesday night’s elections, from the presidential race all the way down to municipal ballot initiatives. One exciting indication of just how far the movement to end mass incarceration has come? On Election Day it used to be possible to round up all reform-related electoral results in a few bullet points, but this week, there were so many criminal justice victories that it is impossible to summarize them all in a few paragraphs. Below are some of the highlights we were tracked most closely on election night. These results show a vibrant movement growing in strength and pushing into unchartered and difficult territory.

Two protestors holding 'No More Drug War' and ACLU's 'We the People' posters at a protest in front of the Justice Department.

ACLU of Oklahoma Welcomes a New Era in Leadership

As many of you know, after more than eight years at the helm, former Executive Director Ryan Kiesel stepped down from leading the ACLU of Oklahoma. Ryan’s time at the affiliate is marked by an impressive list of victories and advances on a wide range of political and legal issues. In short, he left big shoes to fill. And after an extensive search, the ACLU of Oklahoma Board of Directors found just the right person to fill them.

Tamya Cox-Touré Headshot