Protecting Civil Liberties in Rhode Island for Over 50 Years
In a case with important ramifications for the public’s ability to monitor police misbehavior, the ACLU sued the Pawtucket Police Department for refusing to release certain reports of alleged police officer misconduct generated by its Internal Affairs Division (IAD).
In an important preliminary victory for First Amendment rights, U.S. District Court Chief Judge William Smith issued a temporary restraining order against enforcement of the City of Cranston’s anti-panhandling ordinance. The order will remain in effect pending a future trial on the ACLU of Rhode Island’s challenge to the controversial ordinance.
Police should need a WARRANT to look inside your medicine cabinet. Here's our statement about Governor Raimondo signing a bill that gives law enforcement access to the Department of Health's prescription database without a warrant.
We successfully settled our suit against Tiverton police and school officials on behalf of 8-year-old girl removed by police from a school bus, taken alone to the police station, and questioned for several hours.
Our new report looks at the multitude of issues facing transgender and gender non-conforming students, and calls on RI schools districts to adopt and implement comprehensive policies that protect them.
Raising alarm about the lack of privacy for students and their families, the ACLU of Rhode Island recently released a report showing that many school districts in the state give themselves the right to spy on students through school-loaned laptop computers.
The ACLU urges all Rhode Island municipalities to adopt a comprehensive ordinance to protect their immigrant communities from constitutionally dubious federal immigration requests.
R.I. Superior Court ruled that a Westerly fabrics company discriminated against Christine Callaghan when the offer of a paid internship was rescinded because of her participation in the state’s medical marijuana program.
The ACLU of RI is the state's leading defender of civil liberties. Help protect freedom, justice, and equality by becoming a member of the ACLU today.
When Rhode Islanders know their rights they are able to defend their civil liberties. When they are informed about civil liberties issues they can take action to protect others.
Whether we're exploring the unintended consequences of a proposed law, discussing how a policy can be improved to highlighting old cases that are still relevant today, or commenting on recent articles that are worth the read, the ACLU of RI blog provides insight and information on some of the most important civil liberties issues in the state.
Visit the blog regularly to read posts from staff members and learn about aspects of our work that don't make it into the news.
The ACLU works on a wide range of issues. Some of those issues which are in the news today and which you may be looking for include:
You can also see all the issues featured here on our website.