News & Commentary

Today we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His contributions leading the civil rights movement and urging our nation to take some important steps toward full equality and inclusion are well recognized and respected. But his advocacy extended beyond confronting racism, to economic justice, opposition to the Vietnam War, and challenging oppression wherever and whenever it existed. Put more simply, Dr. King’s legacy is not simply about non-violence or speaking about dreams for America; it is about fighting, struggling and speaking truth to power.

Last October, the Pew Charitable Trusts released an update of their 2014 report on state prison healthcare across America. The report analyzes how each of the states provides care for those held in that state’s prisons using a number of metrics.

For many folks I talk to regularly, 2017 has felt like an eternity. The daily drum beat of policy proclamations, the rushed consideration of harmful legislation through of harmful bills in Congress, and Tweets from the Trump White House have served as a daily reminder to the challenges faced today by those who cherish our Constitution and want to expand access to basic rights for many. It has been a long, hard, and constant fight.

Imagine you’re at work and your boss tells you he is firing you because he is “old school” and believes that a woman should really stay home to care for her children. You would think that “he can’t do that. It’s sex discrimination.” Maybe not if a recent court decision is allowed to stand. 

Overcrowding in Illinois prisons is up, with more than 40,000 prisoners in a system built for only 32,000. While Illinois spends more than $1.4 billion on prisons each and every year, nearly half of formerly incarcerated people return to prison within three years. The reasons why are clear: overreliance on punitive sentencing, underinvestment in education and employment opportunities in communities, and cutting or underfunding programs proven to reduce recidivism.

An update on our ACLU of Illinois client case from the Fire Law Blog:

Testimony of Heidi DalenbergRiley Safer Holmes and Cancila LLPGeneral Counsel and Cooperating Counsel, ACLU of IllinoisBefore the Senate Human Services CommitteeSubject Matter On: Testimony on Department of Children and Family Services' hotline and investigate processOctober 24, 2017