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Why the NSA’s gathering of metadata matters

Jamela Debelak, ACLU-WA Technology and Liberty Director
Jun 17, 2013
Goverment power that operates unchecked behind closed doors is inevitably abused. The recent disclosures about the secret NSA surveillance programs prove this maxim. Read More »
 
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Victory! Seattle Bans the Box

Vanessa Hernandez, ACLU-WA Staff Attorney and Equal Justice Works Fellow
Jun 12, 2013
This Monday, the Seattle City Council voted unanimously to enact a law that would prevent employers from automatically rejecting any applicant with a criminal record.  The goal of the bill, sponsored by Councilmember Bruce Harrell, is to reduce the long-term effects of a criminal record by allowing applicants to be considered on their merits before being denied simply because of a record. Read More »
 
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Sentenced to Jail for Being Poor: Modern-day Debtor’s Prisons

Vanessa Hernandez, ACLU-WA Staff Attorney and Equal Justice Works Fellow
May 31, 2013
When people are convicted of a crime, they expect to be sentenced to jail time or probation.  But there are other long-lasting consequences – and these can be unfair and counter-productive. Read More »
 
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Urge WA Lawmakers to Stand Up for Our Marijuana Laws

Angela Moorer, ACLU-WA Drug Policy Assistant
May 29, 2013
Initiative 502 passed last year with a resounding  55.7 percent approval.  Now that marijuana possession is legal for adults in our state, Washington needs our elected officials in Washington, DC to take action to reflect the voice of the people. Read More »
 
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Social Media Password Bill Signing Ceremony

A victory for online privacy!

Shankar Narayan, ACLU-WA Legislative Director
May 23, 2013
On Tuesday, the state legislature gave Washingtonians something to celebrate.  Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law new privacy protections for social media account passwords.   Read More »
 

ALPR: The Surveillance Tool You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

Jamela Debelak, ACLU-WA Technology and Liberty Director
May 20, 2013
If networks of surveillance cameras and drones have you concerned, you should meet their less known but equally dangerous cousin: automated license plate recognition (or ALPR). ALPR systems track and store location data on millions of vehicles and are in regular use throughout the state of Washington. Read More »
 

My May Day Experience

Raissa Masket, ACLU-WA Marketing and Communications Intern
May 17, 2013
On an unusually warm and sunny May 1st, I gathered with ACLU of Washington coworkers and supporters at Judkins Park in Seattle’s Central District, joining with thousands of others to participate in the annual May Day march.  The march began here in Washington 13 years ago as a day of advocacy for worker and immigration rights, and it continues to provide a safe and supportive forum for individuals to tell their stories and publicly express their support. Read More »
 

Speech and Privacy Protections Must Keep Pace with New Technology

Jamela Debelak, ACLU-WA Technology and Liberty Director
May 14, 2013
Having recently started as the new Technology and Liberty Director at the ACLU of WA, I’d like to tell you how I think about technology and some of the key issues I hope to focus on in the coming months and years. Read More »
 

Employment Discrimination: Another State Bans the Box

Vanessa Hernandez, ACLU-WA Staff Attorney and Equal Justice Works Fellow
May 10, 2013
This week, Minnesota joined the national movement to “ban the box.”   Its legislature passed, with bi-partisan support, a bill that would prevent public and private employers from asking about criminal history on an initial application. Read More »
 
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Religious Restrictions Put Health Care Rights at Risk

Margaret Chen, ACLU-WA Floyd and Delores Jones Family Fellow
May 7, 2013
Health care facilities open to the general public should provide access to a full range of health care services. Religious ideology should not determine what health care services are available to patients. Read More »
 
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