Fighting Back Against Threats to Democracy

In the first months of the second Trump Administration, we have seen unprecedented threats to our civil liberties and our democracy. It is more important than ever that advocates for civil rights and liberties work to protect marginalized communities and defend our Constitution.

The ACLU of Pennsylvania has been hard at work to develop legal and advocacy strategies to protect people’s safety, health, fundamental rights, and freedoms.

The ACLU of Pennsylvania is helping protect our immigrant neighbors from extreme anti-immigration policies and working to ensure that immigrants receive due process, fair treatment, and protection from unconstitutional detention and deportation. We will continue to be an advocate for immigrant communities and defend against government abuse and discrimination.

• We are monitoring immigration enforcement practices and investigating reports on violations of civil rights, holding appropriate authorities accountable and taking legal action as necessary.
• We are engaging in litigation to challenge unconstitutional immigration practices and policies like unlawful detentions and transfers, as well as release denials.
• In collaboration with immigrants’ rights partners, we are advocating for policies that protect the rights of immigrant communities at the local, state, and federal levels. We are also providing model welcoming policies and ordinances to local stakeholders to implement safeguards across the commonwealth for immigrant communities.
• We are working with community partners, elected officials, and local leaders to provide Know Your Rights training and resources to educate immigrant communities about what to do when interacting with law enforcement and/or immigration agents.
• We are working with immigrants’ rights organizations and community groups to uplift the voices of impacted individuals, mobilize our ACLU network to take action in support of partner advocacy and rapid response efforts, and strengthen our relationships with partners across the state.

Transgender, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, intersex, and asexual (TLGBQIA+) people continue to face discrimination in many areas of their lives. Neither Pennsylvania law nor federal statutes specifically prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. And, TLGBQIA+ students often face discrimination and harassment at school from students, teachers, and administrators. The ACLU of Pennsylvania will continue to work to ensure that TLGBQIA+ individuals enjoy the same rights and protections as everyone else and towards creating a more inclusive and equitable society.

• We are advocating for safe and inclusive educational environments and policies that support the well-being of TLGBQIA+ students.
• We continue to push for legislation that offers nondiscrimination protections for TLGBQIA+ individuals.
• We are ready to challenge any discriminatory laws and practices across the commonwealth and will continue to work to lift up TLGBQIA+ rights.
• We are providing Know Your Rights information in public schools to ensure that every child, parent, and teacher are aware of the rights and legal protections afforded to TLGBQIA+ students.
• We are raising awareness about TLGBQIA+ rights and issues and shift the narrative to the importance of equality in Pennsylvania.
• We are collaborating with TLGBQIA+ community groups to strengthen advocacy efforts and provide spaces for TLGBQIA+ individuals to develop leadership skills to both develop the skills to be an advocate and to feel a sense of belonging and authentic self.

For more than 100 years, the ACLU has defended freedom of expression protections codified by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. As more Pennsylvanians engage in constitutionally protected protest and other dissent, ACLU of Pennsylvania will continue to make sure that this political speech is protected and free from government interference. We will continue to work to protect a democracy where diverse voices must have a chance to be heard.

• We are providing Know Your Rights training and educational resources to inform community members about their rights regarding freedom of speech and protest.
• We are advocating for legislation and policies that protect and expand First Amendment protections in the commonwealth, as well as lobbying against efforts that infringe on these rights.
• We are providing legal support and filing lawsuits when those exercising their free speech rights experience retaliation or other unjust legal consequences.
• We are fighting against censorship, including book bans and threats to a free press.

Since 1920, the ACLU has recognized that personal privacy and reproductive freedom are among our most important constitutional liberties. The ACLU of Pennsylvania will continue to defend and work to advance reproductive rights, including abortion rights in the commonwealth. Although abortion is legal in Pennsylvania, it can be very difficult to access – and that’s by design.

• We are advocating for pro-abortion legislation and opposing efforts that seek to limit access to care.
• We are collaborating with reproductive health organizations and other allies to strengthen advocacy and policy efforts, including state funding for abortions.
• We will challenge any restrictive laws and back any litigation that seeks to uphold and expand access to reproductive rights and care.

Nothing is more fundamental to our democracy than the right to vote. The ACLU of Pennsylvania is committed to ensuring that all eligible voters are able to cast their votes and that every vote is counted.

• We are advocating for policies and legislation that expand access to voting.
• We are monitoring administrative policies and procedures to identify, document, and advocate against efforts to limit voter access.
• We are providing Know Your Rights educational resources to inform community members about their voting rights and engaging community members around the importance of voting.
• We will continue to challenge any policies and/or procedures that disenfranchise voters and create unnecessary barriers to voting, such as disqualifying mail-ballots for missing or incorrect handwritten dates.