News & Commentary

In late July, President Donald Trump gave a speech to a group of police officers and officials in New York, during which he suggested that police should feel free to “rough up” arrestees and those detained for questioning.  The ACLU of Illinois’ Karen Sheley responded to that comment and how police misconduct has contributed to the broken system of policing in Chicago. Read Sheley's statement.  

The ACLU on Tuesday filed a motion on behalf of the staff at the Illinois Youth Center in Harrisburg citing criminal charges against the Department of Juvenile Justice/IYC Harrisburg Youth Center.

After more than a year on the campaign trail spent sneering at the rise in violent crime in the City of Chicago, Donald Trump promised real, bold action to address the problem. After nearly six months of waiting and more tweets, the Administration ignored the crying need for investment in social services and meaningful police reform in Chicago and, instead, sent some added Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) agents to assist police in the City.

Last week, we asked you to contact your state senators to urge their support for House Bill 40, which will ensure that access to abortion is protected in our state. Your advocacy helped push the bill through the senate.

Too many LGBTQ youth find themselves in the custody of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) for a number of reasons that include disapproving and even abusive families. For years, the ACLU has heard about, and taken steps to address, problems LGBTQ youth in DCFS custody face in obtaining supportive housing placements and medical treatment.Of course, the ACLU has been involved in pushing

At a time when decisions by the Trump administration so profoundly impact the reproductive health rights of scores of people across this country, the ACLU of Illinois will not give up on ensuring access to comprehensive reproductive health care in our state.

Since the election, ACLU staff have heard one question more than any other: what can I do to protect fundamental freedoms threatened by policies from Washington? Our collective answer largely has been the same – stay informed, stay connected to groups like the ACLU and stay active.

There is something about history – we only see it being made after the fact. When reflecting on years of progress, we can take for granted that (as the adage goes) it always arced toward justice. We can skim over the bloody violence of lynching and the march at Selma, only to see Martin Luther King Jr. standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial delivering his famous words of unity. We can jump over the generations of discrimination against gay men and lesbians, including the use of rough police tactics at gay bars, and see only the happy scenes on the steps of the Supreme Court after the freedom to marry for gay and lesbian couples was affirmed by the Court.

The response to the immigration ban imposed by President Donald Trump, many have found echoes of other historic eras.  ACLU of Illinois volunteer Rebecca Lipton recently shared with us her family’s experience. We are proud to share it with you.