News & Commentary

Local elections are important in the fight to protect basic rights and civil liberties. There are many important races on the ballot in the 2023 Consolidated Election which impact your rights and civil liberties.

This new law, known as the Patient and Provider Protection Act, sends a clear message. We will not let states that are trying to restrict health care reach into Illinois to tell us what we can do.

Dozens of Chicagoans—mostly Black and brown people—gave searing public testimony in court about terrifying and degrading experiences with Chicago police before the federal judge who oversees the Chicago Police Consent Decree.

Find out more about some of our initiatives that passed during the carry over session.

In 2022, because of the commitment of supporters and activists like you, the courage of our clients, the work our dedicated staff, and the on the ground efforts of our partners the ACLU of Illinois continued to protect and expand civil rights and liberties.

Current events are hot discussion topics at many holiday tables. If you want to jump start a conversation about civil liberties, please keep reading for talking points about the ACLU’s most urgent work.

This week Illinois legislators are back in Springfield. We need you to take action on this important legislation. 

The War on Drugs has failed and everyone knows it. 79% of Illinois voters support reclassifying sentences for all drug offenses. Yet Illinois continues to treat simple possession of drugs as a felony, with real life consequences.

There are many myths around the Pretrial Fairness Act which ends the use of money bond and transforms the state’s pretrial legal system.