News & Commentary

There are many important races down ballot in the Midterm elections which impact your rights and civil liberties.

Data reported by the Chicago Police Department (CPD) to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) about police traffic stops in 2021 confirm what many people of color in Chicago have experienced throughout their lives: Chicago police do not enforce traffic laws fairly or equitably.

Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs) are a powerful surveillance tool increasingly being deployed across Illinois’s communities and expressways. These camera systems are aggressively marketed as a means of reducing violent crime, but are collecting data on every car that drives past. 

In Illinois, all people have the fundamental right to make decisions about their own reproductive health care – including whether to have an abortion. 

There are many actions DCFS can take to better protect its workers and needs to put in place safety measures that caseworkers and investigators have been asking for.

A preliminary settlement recently was announced in a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security on behalf of people in detention after ICE arrested them without a warrant.

In 2021, because of the commitment of supporters and activists like you, the courage of our clients, and the strength of our partnerships the ACLU of Illinois continued to protect and expand civil rights and liberties.

During the 2021 Veto Session, advocates including Emily Werth and Hon. Susan Fox Gillis testified before committee in support of HB 370, a measure that repealed the Parental Notice of Abortion Act.

A state report recently found that DCFS fails to meet the needs of LGBTQIA youth in their care. Heidi Dalenberg recently testified in a committee on a way forward for the agency.