As a leading civil rights organization in the land of 10,000 lakes, we at the ACLU of Minnesota believe it is our duty to keep the public informed about the state of their civil liberties. The work we do at the legislature, in the courts, and in our communities is important, but there is no better defender of civil rights than a public that is informed and engaged.
We are living in unprecedented times. We know things feel scary. We want to reassure you that the ACLU-MN’s work to safeguard civil liberties goes on – and we’re working harder than ever – even though where we’re doing it has changed.
At this unprecedented moment in our history, the ground can feel like it’s shifting nearly every minute. Our nation is facing a serious public health crisis, and it’s important that we do what we can to take care of ourselves and each other.
Jen was arrested for drug possession. She was sentenced to a year in county jail and 40 years of probation. Because Minnesota law bars people on felony probation or supervision from voting, that means Jen won't be eligible to vote until she is in her seventies.
Minnesota law allows a driver’s license to be suspended if someone fails to pay a fine for a traffic violation or fails to appear in court in response to a ticket. These excessive fines and fees are hurting everyday Minnesotans, who just want to get to work and care for their families.
We are pleased to announce sponsorship opportunities for the 2020 ACLU of Minnesota Liberty Awards — an event honoring members of the legal community, our coalition partners and members of the community who are invested in the fight for civil liberties for all.
As the Minnesota DFL considers whether to introduce a proposal to legalize recreational cannabis, they are hoping to succeed where some other states have failed by passing legislation both legalizes cannabis and narrows racial disparities in enforcement.