ACLU of the District of Columbia

Remember: while President Trump may hold office, we the people hold the power. That's how democracy works, and we intend to keep it that way.

No Kings on March 28: Sign Up Now I'm attending this event - sign up now to join me!

We've had enough with ICE’s cruelty. While we’re working in our communities every day to challenge the Trump administration’s abuse of our rights, we’re marking our calendar to take to the streets.

Stay updated on finding a protest near you: https://act.aclu.org/a/no-kings-march-28

We should not have to live in fear of masked, armed agents on our streets.

A photo of Shirley Raines in a glittering purple suit, standing confidently with one hand on her hip against a backdrop reading "CNN Heroes: All-Star Tribute." Text on the left reads:"I became ‘the makeup lady’ who passed out essentials like food and clothing but also gave warm showers, hair treatments, and sidewalk makeovers. I watched people come to me worn and hardened and leave with light in their eyes. I was seeing the healing properties of self-care — the same ones that had helped me — in action for so many others.” — Shirley Raines, Advocate and founder of Beauty 2 the Streetz The ACLU and Black Futures Month logos appear at the bottom.

The late Shirley Raines poured herself into bringing compassion to unhoused communities in California and Nevada, giving hygiene products and food to as many people as possible day after day.

She showed millions the difference one can make by providing a neighbor with a meal, a makeover, and care.

D.C. DESERVES THE POWER TO GOVERN ITSELF— HERE’S WHY D.C. HOME RULE MATTERS - ACLU of DC D.C. Home Rule is shorthand for the D.C. Home Rule Act of 1973, which allows D.C. residents to elect the mayor, D.C. Councilmembers, and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners who run day-to-day affairs ...

D.C. is the only national capital in the democratic world whose citizens don't have equal voting and representation rights.

D.C. home rule isn’t a partisan issue — it’s about basic democratic fairness.
https://bit.ly/4bG4JCz

A graphic with a blue and black dual-tone image of the constitution in the background. Overlayed is white text that reads: “Bill of Rights Celebration. 65th ACLU-D.C. Anniversary. Tuesday, May 12th, 2026. Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 641 D St. NW, Washington, DC 20004.”  The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom right corner.

On Tuesday, May 12th, we're celebrating 65 years of the ACLU of D.C. — 65 years of defending freedom and justice — with an evening of community, reflection & awards.

Join us for the 2026 Bill of Rights celebration: https://www.acludc.org/event/bill-of-rights-2026-celebrations/

Graphic with a black background resembling a basketball court. In the center is a bright yellow box with blue and black text that reads: “Trans kids belong on our teams, in our schools, and in our communities.” “More Than A Game” is written above in white and the ACLU logo appears below in white.

No child should be told they can’t play sports just because of who they are.

Join our fight for trans student athletes: https://bit.ly/4bLcY07

D.C. pays $500,000 to settle lawsuit brought by gay Corrections Dept. employee Alleged years of verbal harassment, slurs, intimidation

Deon Jones' victory sends a clear message: accountability matters, and hostile and discriminatory workplace cultures cannot be tolerated.

https://www.washingtonblade.com/2026/02/06/dc-settles-gay-department-corrections-officer-lawsuit/

House rejects D.C. tax changes, potentially costing the city $600M in revenue GOP proponents say they want to preserve tax cuts for residents and businesses. D.C. officials say the move would produce fiscal chaos.

Make no mistake: every time Congress interferes in local D.C. legislature, it weakens D.C.’s autonomy, silences the voices of the 700,000 people who actually live here, and harms those who rely most on public services to get by.

https://wapo.st/4arraJu

A dark purple quote graphic from Patricia Roberts Harris, Legal Scholar and former ACLU-D.C. board member speaking at her confirmation hearing for Secretary of Housing and Development in 1977. White and dark purple text reads: “I am a Black woman, the daughter of a dining car waiter. … A Black woman who could not buy a house eight years ago in parts of the District of Columbia... If my life has any meaning at all, it is that those who start out as outcasts may end up being part of the system. Black Futures Month.” A dark purple and white dual-tone image of Harris is to the right of the quote. The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom left corner.

Patricia Roberts Harris didn't just break barriers; she built pathways for future generations to thrive.

This Black Futures Month, Harris’ legacy reminds us that Black futures can thrive when we protect civil rights, challenge inequity, and imagine systems that serve everyone.

The average public school in the U.S. has 500 students. ICE is currently detaining at least 3,800 children, many of whom are being held in inhumane conditions.

Children do not belong in government detention.

RIGHTS. Preparing for ICE Raids: Emergency Plans. If you learn of possible immigration enforcement in your community, it’s important to act quickly and be prepared. One way to prepare is to make an emergency plan. WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR EMERGENCY PLAN - Personal details (name, SSN/ITIN, place of birth). - Contact information for trusted emergency contacts, lawyer/legal providers, embassy or consulate. - Family details (children’s caregivers, doctors, medication info, allergies/dietary needs). - Your own doctor’s information, medications, allergies, and other health needs." In the top right corner of the graphic is a collage graphic of an image of a protest sign that reads "The power of the people are stronger than the people in power" and an ICE badge overlayed a bright orange abstract shape. The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom left corner. A bright orange right arrow is in the bottom right corner.

A black graphic with orange and white text that reads: "KNOW YOUR RIGHTS. Preparing for ICE Raids: Emergency Plans. Keep your emergency plan safe: Store it with important documents (passport, prescriptions, immigration papers). Never carry it with you. Share its location only with trusted family or friends, never with ICE. ADDITIONAL STEPS - Make a childcare plan in case you are detained, so another adult has the authority to take care of your children if you are unable to do so. - Designate a Standby Guardian, a person who can temporarily care for and make decisions for your minor children in the event you are arrested, detained, or deported for immigration-related matters. - Set up a financial plan so someone can handle bills and accounts if you are unable to do so. To know more about your rights when interacting with ICE in the DMV, head to www.acludc.org/kyr. " The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom left corner.

It's important to be prepared and act quickly in case you learn of possible immigration enforcement in your community. Do you have an emergency plan?

Learn more about your rights when encountering ICE agents in the DMV: https://bit.ly/4sXINsQ

D.C. Corrections Officer Wins Half-Million-Dollar Settlement Over Anti-Gay Hostile Workplace at D.C. Department of Corrections - ACLU of DC After four years of litigation, a veteran D.C. corrections officer today settled a lawsuit challenging anti-gay discriminatory and retaliatory conduct at the D.C. Department of Corrections.

Today's settlement sends a clear message: respecting people’s rights is not optional. Discrimination and retaliation have real costs.

Learn more about Deon’s victory: www.acludc.org/press-releas...

A yellow and green dual-tone image with a phot of Deon Jones, plaintiff in Jones vs. District of Columbia, at the top. Below, yellow and white text reads: “VICTORY FOR DEON JONES. Deon Jones wins a half-million-dollar settlement after suing the District, four Depart of Corrections supervisors, and a co-worker for discrimination and retaliation.” The ACLU-D.C. logo is centered at the bottom of the graphic.

A green quote graphic from Deon Jones, plaintiff in Jones v. District of Columbia, that reads: “For anyone who is LGBTQ or living with a disability — and facing workplace discrimination or retaliation — know this: you are not powerless. You have rights. And when you stand up, you can achieve justice.” The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom left corner.

VICTORY: After four years of litigation, veteran D.C. corrections officer Deon Jones has secured a half-million-dollar settlement from the District of Columbia for experiencing years of verbal abuse, discrimination, and retaliation by fellow officers and superiors for being a gay man. 1/2

A graphic featuring NFL player Eric Reid in uniform with arms folded. On the left, white text on a black background reads: “It baffles me that our protest is still being misconstrued as disrespectful to the country, flag and military personnel. We chose it because it’s exactly the opposite.” Below the quote, smaller white text says: “ERIC REID One of the first NFL players to take a knee for racial justice.” The red ACLU logo appears in the bottom left, and a white box with red text at the bottom right reads Black Futures Month.

Eric Reid's legacy reminds us that Black history isn't just something to be remembered — it’s something we must defend daily through protecting free expression, confronting racial injustice, and demanding accountability from those in power to prioritize we, the people over power.

ACLU Fights DOJ Overreach to Protect Voter Privacy and Sensitive Data | American Civil Liberties Union

Every eligible voter deserves the freedom to cast a ballot and have it counted. Secretive programs that hide how voter data is collected and used put that freedom at risk.

The ACLU is fighting back nationwide.
https://bit.ly/3NDPOP9

Know your rights if you're stopped by local or federal law enforcement, or National Guard troops in D.C.

Learn more about your rights when encountering law enforcement and military troops in the District: https://bit.ly/4qpTdQg

Profs & Pints DC: Trump, Your Rights, and Resistance - ACLU of DC Profs and Pints DC presents: “Trump, Your Rights, and Resistance,” an overview of the legal landscape in the District of Columbia one year into Donald Trump’s second administration, with Scott Michelm...

Pay attention. Get informed. Take action.

Join ACLU-D.C. Legal Director Scott Michelman for an urgent breakdown of where our civil rights stand a year into President Trump's second term — and what you can do to resist.

Get your tickets today: https://bit.ly/3LbVO0Y

Recording and Documenting Police and Federal Agents The First Amendment protects your right to record and document law enforcement and federal agents performing their duties in public.

The First Amendment fully protects our right to record federal agents and police performing their duties in public.

Know your rights while filming, how to protect your digital privacy, and what to do if you're stopped or arrested for recording.
https://bit.ly/4c6iTwT

A graphic with a background of grey-toned gritty image of a protest sign that reads “TEMPORARY TROOPS WON’T FIX A BROKEN SYSTEM” and white text highlighted red for emphasis that reads: “President Trump’s National Guard deployment in D.C. cost taxpayers $223 million in 2025. Source: ‘Estimating the Costs of Troop Deployments to U.S. Cities,’ Congressional Budget Office.” A white right arrow is in the bottom right corner. The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom left corner.

A graphic with a background of grey-toned gritty image of a protest sign that reads “TEMPORARY TROOPS WON’T FIX A BROKEN SYSTEM” and white text highlighted red for emphasis that reads: “The average cost for a single Guard in D.C. costs $607 per day, the highest cost among cities with a National Guard presence. Source: ‘Estimating the Costs of Troop Deployments to U.S. Cities,’ Congressional Budget Office.” At the top of the image is a torn image of the CBO report. A white right arrow is in the bottom right corner. The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom left corner.

A graphic with a background of grey-toned gritty image of a protest sign that reads “TEMPORARY TROOPS WON’T FIX A BROKEN SYSTEM” and white text highlighted red for emphasis that reads: “The cost for the deployment of 2,950 troops in D.C. is about $55 million per month. There are currently over 2,600 troops in the District. Source: ‘Estimating the Costs of Troop Deployments to U.S. Cities,’ Congressional Budget Office.” At the top of the image is a torn image of the CBO report. A white right arrow is in the bottom right corner. The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom left corner.

A graphic with a background of grey-toned gritty image of a protest sign that reads “TEMPORARY TROOPS WON’T FIX A BROKEN SYSTEM” and white text highlighted red for emphasis that reads: “District residents’ taxpayer dollars should be spent supporting our community's needs, not on bankrolling an indefinite military presence on our streets. This fiscal irresponsibility on behalf of the Trump administration not only undermines local autonomy and democratic governance, it is a blatant misuse of public funds that could be more effectively spent investing in public health, education, public safety, and more. Source: ‘Estimating the Costs of Troop Deployments to U.S. Cities,’ Congressional Budget Office.” The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom left corner.

President Trump’s brazen D.C. power grab is bankrupting our democracy.

Protect Medication Abortion Telemedicine makes abortion accessible, empowering people to safely get the care they need without having to travel hundreds of miles just to pick up a pill. Tell the Department of Health and Human Se...

Anti-abortion politicians are relentlessly attacking our essential health care.

Tell President Trump and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to keep politics out of science and not impose new nationwide abortion restrictions.

https://action.aclu.org/send-message/protect-medication-abortion

Text: “Black adults comprise only 14% of our nation’s population, but they account for 41% of the people currently on death row.” Image: Black-and-white photo of two hands reaching out and holding through prison bars, overlaid with red geometric shape and barbed wire. ACLU logo in red.

Racism is embedded in the death penalty.

Black people are far more likely to be sentenced to death than white people, especially if the victim is white. 

Burnley v. U.S.: Demanding Accountability on Caribbean Boat Strikes | American Civil Liberties Union On October 14, 2025, the United States military carried out an illegal missile strike that killed Chad Joseph and Rishi Samaroo, two Trinidadian men who were traveling by boat from Venezuela to their ...

On October 14, 2025, the U.S. government killed Chad Joseph and Rishi Samaroo, two Trinidadian men traveling by boat from Venezuela to their homes in Trinidad and Tobago, in a missile strike.

Their families are now fighting for accountability and justice: https://bit.ly/49YmKcF

Tell HHS: Hands Off Our Care Take action with ACLU People Power!

The Trump administration is trying to ban gender-affirming care for trans youth nationwide.

Gender-affirming care is life-saving care. Tell the Department of Health and Human Services to defend this critical care NOW.
https://bit.ly/3ZBroIP

What Trump’s Immigration Policies Mean for Families Across the DMV - ACLU of DC Since the start of President Trump’s second term, immigrant communities across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia have been living with an immigration agenda once again defined by fear, ...

When immigration enforcement escalates in the District, families across D.C., Maryland, and Virginia pay the price.

Fear spreads — but so does resistance.

Read more: https://www.acludc.org/news/what-trumps-immigration-policies-mean-for-families-across-the-dmv/

YouTube video by ACLU Eyes on ICE: Document and Record

Missed the ACLU's virtual training on how to exercise your right to document ICE abuses in your community? A recording available below or on Youtube to watch and share with friends and family.

We keep each other safe by keeping each other informed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDtUBSqrL7o

A dark blue-toned image of Donald Trump. Overlayed is neon green text that reads: "Tuesday, March 3rd. 6PM-8:30PM ET. Penn Social, 801 E ST NW. LINK IN BIO. POSTPONED. Profs and Pints presents: Trump, your rights, and resistance. ACLU-D.C.’s legal director Scott Michelman will discuss the legal landscape in D.C. a year into President Trump’s second term and how District residents can protect their rights and our democracy." The ACLU-D.C. logo is in white in the bottom left corner.

UPDATE: Due to unsafe travel conditions, our Profs and Pints conversation for tonight has been postponed for Tuesday, March 3rd.

Anyone who had purchased a ticket should be getting a refund in a week to ten days.

Get tickets for the March 3rd talk: https://bit.ly/4rfDUJM

Eyes on ICE: Document and Record · No Kings On Saturday, federal agents horrifically shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse who cared for veterans, in the Eat Street neighborhood of south Minneapolis after brutally beating him in...

We the people have the power. Join us tonight for a virtual training on how to exercise your right to document ICE abuses in your community.

RSVP using the link below. When using that link, Indivisible will know you came from us; their privacy policy applies.
https://bit.ly/3NwzJuO

New York Times v. Department of Defense - Opposing Government Control Over Pentagon Journalists' Reporting - ACLU of DC Once again, the Trump Administration is attempting to exert unconstitutional control over the content of expression—this time, by affording executive officials unbridled discretion to revoke Pentagon ...

A democracy can survive when the press are free to report without fear or favor to those in power.

Alongside National ACLU, we filed an amicus brief in support of the New York Times challenging Pentagon efforts to censor independent reporting.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4q2coyB

A dark blue-toned image of Donald Trump. Overlayed is white text that reads: "Tuesday, January 27. 6PM-8:30PM ET. Penn Social, 801 E ST NW. LINK IN BIO. Profs and Pints presents: Trump, your rights, and resistance. ACLU-D.C.’s legal director Scott Michelman will discuss the legal landscape in D.C. a year into President Trump’s second term and how District residents can protect their rights and our democracy." The ACLU-D.C. logo is in white in the bottom left corner.

Our country looks and feels very different a year into President Trump's second term.

Join ACLU-DC Legal Director Scott Michelman for a conversation on the civil rights issues shaping this moment—and how to protect our democracy.

Get your tickets today: https://bit.ly/3LbVO0Y