Press Releases

Chicago Pays Settlement to Latina Mother After Police Officer’s Obscene Verbal Tirade, False Arrest, and Detention

Julie Campos settled her federal civil rights lawsuit with the City of Chicago after police physically assaulted, falsely arrested, and detained her in June 2020.

Aurora Pride Challenges City Ordinance that Caused Havoc for 2022 LGBTQ+ Pride Parade

We filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Aurora Pride challenging the city’s special events ordinance which gives the city police a veto by allowing them not to staff the event if they do not agree with the message.

ACLU Warns Lightfoot Campaign on Coerced Political Speech

The Lightfoot campaign’s email to Chicago Public School teachers urging them to offer extra credit to students as an incentive to volunteer on the Mayor’s re-election campaign is inappropriately coercive and raises First Amendment concerns.

ACLU of Illinois Hails Passage of Protections for Abortion and Gender-Affirming Health Care

This Illinois House and Senate passed HB 4664 to reinforce protections for abortion and gender-affirming health care in Illinois.

ACLU of Illinois Hails Passage of House Bill 2542 Modernizing Illinois’ Name Change Statute

The Illinois Senate passed House Bill 2542, a measure that repeals and amends restrictions and outdated provisions contained in Illinois’ name change law - one of the most restrictive in the nation.
Issue Areas: LGBTQ and HIV Advocacy

ACLU Responds to Latest Independent Monitor Report on Chicago Police Reform

The Independent Monitor overseeing Chicago Police reform issued the sixth report on the City’s progress toward achieving constitutional policing in Chicago. The report continued to show that CPD is failing to meet many of the goals under the federal court supervised consent decree. 

ACLU Responds to Legislative Action Paving the Way for the End of Money Bond in Illinois

Today’s action on a trailer bill addressing clarifications of the SAFE-T Act will result in the end of the money bond system in Illinois beginning in January 2023. Detention while awaiting trial should never have depended on one’s wealth – and that soon will end.
Court Cases: Rowe v. Raoul

State Supreme Court Asked to Intervene after Vermilion County Judge Interferes with Pregnant Woman’s Health Care

The Illinois Supreme Court has been asked to intervene on behalf of a woman being detained at the Vermilion County Jail after a local judge appointed a guardian ad litem for her unborn fetus.