ACLU of Rhode Island

In one week we'll be in Cranston to present again about our state's legislative process and how to get involved — join us!

Free for all, registration is required: www.riaclu.org/event/legisl...

ACLU Files Court Brief in Public Employee Free Speech Case Arguing that “Disparaging” Speech is Not Entitled to Less Protection - ACLU of Rhode Island The brief argues that the court applied an inappropriate standard by judging the speech based on its tone, rather than any disruptive effect it had in the workplace, potentially diminishing free speec...

FREE SPEECH: We filed a brief in a case about public employees’ ability to speak in their personal capacity on important public issues, even if the speech is “disparaging” or “mocking."

The outcome of this case could potentially undermine public employees’ ability to speak on ANY issue. Read more ⬇️

Events - ACLU of Rhode Island

If you’d like to learn more about how laws are made in Rhode Island, how to talk to your elected officials, and some important legislation this year, join us on Saturday, March 7 in Cranston or Saturday, March 21 in Newport. Registration is required: riaclu.org/events

Photo from middle of audience at the advocacy training. Two people, one with long red hair on the left and short dark brown hair on the right, are in focus in the bottom third of the photo. The presenter and a colorful presentation screen is out of focus in the background.

A photo of the presenters. A woman with dark longer hair and a brown sweater stands behind a wooden podium. Two people, a woman with white hair and a black shirt sits on the left of a table with a blue table cloth and the words "ACLU Rhode Island" in white. A man in a dark suit sits next to her.

A photo of presenters talking. One person stands to the left behind a wooden podium, two sit at a table with a blue table cloth. In the foreground, out of focus, are rows of people sitting in chairs. Above the presenters' heads is a big screen with the word "questions?" and the image of a megaphone.

We held one of three Legislative Advocacy Trainings in East Providence on Saturday — thank you to everyone who joined us, and to guest legislator Rep. Speakman.

Nationwide Coalition Challenges Trump Administration’s Attempt to Withhold Support from Noncitizen Victims of Crime - ACLU of Rhode Island Legal Filing Seeks Immediate Court Intervention to Protect Violence Prevention Funding

“Each additional attempt by the federal government to restrict funding for these life-saving services — now weaponizing citizenship status to exclude survivors from receiving support — is as cruel and unlawful as the last."

Read the latest ⬇️

The RI Legislative Session is on break this week, which is a great time to get caught up on our priority bills — and to contact your state legislators about them! Check out our legislative dashboard ⬇️
https://www.riaclu.org/legislative-session-dashboard/

Last Monday, we hosted a webinar to explain how hundreds of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) have spread across Rhode Island — and what you can do about it.

Watch the recording on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjNbUntZV00

Events - ACLU of Rhode Island

Only 15 spots left for our Legislative Advocacy Training in East Providence next Sat., Feb. 21! Learn about the RI legislative process and how to be an effective advocate. Registration is required: https://www.riaclu.org/events/

(We also have trainings on March 7 in Cranston + March 21 in Newport!)

These bills would protect immigrants, limit how ICE operates in RI. How they work. Rhode Island lawmakers are considering bills to protect immigrants, including one that would prevent law enforcement from concealing their identities.

Now, more than ever, these bills are crucial for immigrants’ rights in Rhode Island.

We will continue to advocate for their passage, and we urge you to contact your state legislators in support of these bills.

Want to see more bills? Check out our legislative session dashboard to find information about our priority bills, and guidance on how to contact your legislators.
www.riaclu.org/legislative-...

Two bills we OPPOSE that would make threats to school officials’ (H7552) and minor assault of sports officials (H7549) felony offenses.

Assaults and true threats are already crimes. Making these offenses felonies for special classes of people only fuels overcriminalization and mass incarceration.

SUPPORT: H7353
We support the reinstatement of the Comprehensive Community-Police Relations Act (CCPRA). This would require:
•every RI law enforcement agency to report traffic stop & search data by race
•the data to be analyzed & publicly available
•a community advisory board to oversee the process

This week in the RI Legislative Session: We submitted testimony on a series of bills in the House about police accountability, felony offenses, and privacy. 🧵 1/4

ACLU and RWU Law School Clinic Sue Yet Again Over ACI’s Failure to Accommodate Native American Prisoners’ Religious Freedom - ACLU of Rhode Island ACLU of RI and RWU Law School Clinic sue ACI for a third time over religious freedom.

For a third time, we're suing the RI Dept. of Corrections for refusing to accommodate religious practices that incarcerated Native American people are routinely allowed to practice in prisons across the country.

Freedom of religion is a fundamental right, even if you're incarcerated.

WEBINAR More than Just License Plates: Surveillance in RI - ACLU of Rhode Island Have you seen the “automated license plate reader” cameras (aka ALPRs) being installed across the state? Spoiler alert: They can do more than just read license plates, and there are essentially no laws regulating their use.

What? A webinar!
When? Monday, Feb. 9 at 6pm!
About? License plate reader cameras in RI!

…If you want to be up-to-date on this widespread surveillance technology in Rhode Island. 

Register to get the Zoom link: https://www.riaclu.org/event/webinar-more-than-just-license-plates-surveillance-in-ri/

ACLU of RI Urges Brown University to Reject Camera Sharing with Providence’s Real Time Crime Center - ACLU of Rhode Island The ACLU of RI sent letters to colleges and universities with campuses in Providence that have been approached by the police department to share camera feed access after the shooting at Brown in Decem...

We’re calling on Brown University, and other colleges, to reject the PVD Police’s request to share campus camera feeds with the city’s Real Time Crime Center.

We have serious privacy concerns about this surveillance system given there are no state laws regulating the collection/use of data.

ACLU Brief in Major Voting Rights Case Calls Department of Justice Arguments “an Affront to the Rule of Law” - ACLU of Rhode Island ACLU blasted the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) position that it is entitled to Rhode Island’s entire non-public voter file

NEW BRIEF: We think the U.S. Dept. of Justice’s argument that they should have access to RI’s entire non-public voter file is “...an affront to the rule of law, the role of the judiciary, and the intelligence and rights of the American public.”

Filed with @aclu.org + @commoncauseri.bsky.social

Our best-practice suggestion is to set reasonable time limits on public comments, and prioritize people who signed up but allow anyone to speak day-of.

Read the letter we sent them before their meeting last week, urging them to reconsider this strict deadline:
www.riaclu.org/publications...

LETTER Re: Judicial Nominating Committee Public Commission - ACLU of Rhode Island This letter was sent to the Rhode Island Judicial Nominating Committee regarding their informal public comment policy that required individuals to sign up two weeks in advance of a meeting to speak.

The Judicial Nominating Commission, a public body, meets to screen potential court justice appointments — decisions which can affect Rhode Islanders for decades to come.

Currently, people have to sign up two full weeks (!) in advance to speak during the public comment period of their meetings.

This bill, which would give exceptions to pregnant and postpartum civic leaders to participate remotely for potentially more than a year, could open the door to much more expansive exceptions.

We continue to support Open Meeting reforms, but do not think this is the right approach.

Should public board members be allowed to Zoom in to vote? East Providence lawmaker says yes. • Rhode Island Current Legislation introduced by House Majority Whip Katherine Kazarian would let members of public boards and commissions participate and vote remotely, bringing back and making permanent pandemic-era meeti...

Gov’t transparency perspective on H7403, which we OPPOSE: Public officials’ accountability to the people that they serve is enhanced when they meet in-person.

rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/01/29/s...

Graphic with black background and yellow and white text. "KNOW YOUR PROTEST RIGHTS" and a numbered list of 6 protest rights: You don't need a permit to protest as long as traffic and building access are not obstructed. You have the right to photograph anything in plain view while lawfully in public. If your rights are violated, document everything. If stopped by police, ask if you are free to go. If yes, calmly walk away. If arrested, invoke your right to remain silent and request a lawyer.

Rhode Islanders, this is a reminder to understand your right to protest!

https://www.riaclu.org/know-your-rights/know-your-rights-protests-demonstrations/

Blue background. Neon yellow text says "Students protest rights" at the top. White text says: CAN I BE DISCIPLINED FOR PARTICIPATING IN A WALKOUT? Because the law requires you to attend school, the administration can take corrective action against you for missing class, even if you do it to participate in a political protest. Two important limitations on what school officials can do: A RI state law bars schools from issuing out-of-school suspensions because you are truant or late to class. The same limitation should apply to walkouts. The school cannot punish you more harshly for missing school to participate inpolitical protest than for missingschool for any other purpose."

Blue background. Neon yellow text says "Students protest rights" at the top. White text says: EXAMPLE: If detention is the typical punishment for unexcused absences, that would be an appropriate penalty if you leave school to attend a protest. But the school could not give you a lengthier detention because you were involved in a walkout as opposed to just skipping class. You also should be given the same right to make up work as any other student who has an unexcused absence.

Blue background. Neon yellow text says "Students protest rights" at the top. White text says: WHAT SHOULD I DO IF SCHOOL OFFICIALS THREATEN TO BLOCK SCHOOL EXITS TO PREVENT A WALKOUT? Blocking or locking exits to the school can pose serious health and safety concerns for students and staff. If the school administration threatens to lock the doors to prevent a walkout, immediately notify your parents and the district superintendent’s office.

Blue background. Neon yellow text says "Students protest rights" at the top. White text says: PROTESTS & DEMONSTRATIONS Because of the possibility that in-school protests can be disruptive, the courts have restricted student demonstrations on school property — particularly if they occur during school hours or in a school building. As a result, schools may have reasonable rules regulating the time, place and manner of group demonstrations. Outside of school, students have the right to assemble and express themselves in groups — via marches, protests or other forms of peaceful demonstration. Keep in mind that if you encourage students to miss class, block a hallway, or make a lot of noise while others are studying, it will likely be considered a disruption. But you should be able to organize a peaceful, orderly protest at lunch, or before or after school.

If you’re a student, or know a student, who is planning to walk out, send them this information about their protest rights!

Pawtucket police went to another city and arrested the wrong man. They won’t say why. - The Boston Globe Pawtucket police also refused to release their report, say whether they had a warrant, or explain why the Central Falls police weren’t notified in advance. The incident raises questions about oversigh...

“Outrageous, absurd, and dangerous”

is how our executive director described the Pawtucket city solicitor’s refusal to share records about the Pawtucket Police Dept’s seemingly false arrest of a Central Falls man just because he was not charged with a crime.

Transparency in policing is imperative.

Privacy in Bristol: Yesterday, the Town Council voted 3-2 to approve the RI State Police's request to install one Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) in the town.

We will continue to push for laws that safeguard our privacy rights as this surveillance technology continues to spread.

Pawtucket refused to release the police report on the wrongful arrest, saying the record isn't public because there were no charges.
The @riaclu.bsky.social says that argument is “outrageous, absurd, and dangerous.”

ALPR Cameras 101: Surveillance in Rhode Island - ACLU of Rhode Island Flock Safety brand automated license plate reader cameras are capable of much more than just reading license plates. Learn more about their surveillance capabilities, and what you can do to help prote...

If you want to learn more about automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and Flock Safety in RI, check out our website: www.riaclu.org/campaigns-in...

Shout out to every Portsmouth resident who contacted the Council before the meeting — some of the councilors noted they had rarely heard so much concern from their constituents on a topic.

It’s a reminder that, in a time when our freedoms are under threat, local actions matter. Your voice matters.

Win for privacy! Yesterday, the Portsmouth Town Council voted 7-0 to REJECT the RI State Police’s request to install a Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) in the town.
Portsmouth is the second town to recently refuse to install this invasive technology w/out legal safeguards in place.

A white graphic with a yellow strip at the top, and ACLU of RI and Equity Impact Campaign at the bottom. Text says, top to bottom: "2026 Rhode Island Legislative Session We SUPPORT H 7236. This bill creates a 2-year pilot program to prepare Equity Impact Statements on designated legislation. Equity Impact Statements will analyze the potential discriminatory impact of bills on vulnerable populations so legislators can make more informed decisions. More details: The bill would allow the Speaker of the House (5), the Senate President (5), and the RIBLIA Caucus (5 statements in each chamber) to request up to 20 Equity Impact Statements within a given session. The bill would designate the Commission on Health Advocacy & Equity as the main drafting body and will come at no cost to the state."

We support H7236! This bill creates a pilot program to prepare Equity Impact Statements on designated legislation.

The statements will analyze the potential discriminatory impact of bills on vulnerable populations so legislators can make more informed decisions.

@epi-ri.bsky.social