News & Commentary

In the first months of 2021, two states passed abortion bans, and several more could soon join them. But there are also more subtle and nefarious restrictions on the horizon — bills that will push abortion out of reach without explicitly banning it.

Hennepin County is trying to prohibit people from generating noise, producing public art, holding posters or performing other forms of free speech in public spaces, including the People’s Plaza outside the government center.

Opponents of trans rights have moved from attacking trans students in restrooms to attackingtrans students in sports.

Social vulnerability data is key to intentionally increasing vaccine access to those who need it most.

Face recognition is a threat to not only our constitutional rights, but to people of color and other marginalized groups who are more likely to be misidentified — and bear the consequences.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota and its partner, the POSTME (Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology and Military Equipment) Coalition, have released an open letter today calling on the Minneapolis City Council to pass the Facial Recognition Ordinance.

Policing and public safety are undoubtedly at the forefront of this committee’s minds, and the minds of many Minnesotans and Americans. Over the summer, we were pleased that the legislature responded rapidly to the murder of George Floyd with state-level proposals; however, we want to be clear that the work this body began in special session is far from finished. While changes such as allowing residency incentives, imposing a duty to intercede and increasing community input at the POST Board address symptoms, it is the underlying systems of policing and public safety that require change.

The Biden administration is inheriting tremendous challenges. But addressing family separation should be a no-brainer.

Families still remain separated, people are unable to celebrate life events or mourn the loss of loved ones, and dreams are faltering for millions of people worldwide.