ACLU-WA Instagram

Thursday, August 17, 2023
Dwell in Possibility with Hand, Moon, Cosmos
Join us at Town Hall Seattle or online on October 21, 2023 for a night of connection and community, as we honor partners and progress made for civil rights and civil liberties throughout Washington state.
Thursday, August 24, 2023
ICYMI: In June, the Seattle City Council rejected a proposal that would have criminalized drug use and possession in the city’s code and authorized the City Attorney to file criminal cases in municipal court. It was the right call. Smart Justice Policy Director Jazmyn Clark explains how Seattle can do better on drug policy reform.
Monday, July 31, 2023
An image of a jury box with text that says, "New blog post: In overturning Black man’s conviction, WA Supreme Court reaffirms what it means to have a jury of one’s peers."
BLOG POST: We all have a right to a fair trial in front of a jury of our peers. But what does it mean to have a jury of your peers — people like yourself, from your community — deciding your fate at trial?

We’re hopeful a recent court decision clarified and reaffirmed that right for Black and brown defendants in Washington state.
Friday, May 26, 2023
Large concrete monument in Manzanar, one of the camps where Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II
Japanese and African American survivors and activists gathered in March 2021 to discuss past and present reparations movements, the precedent set by the imprisonment of Japanese Americans, and the path forward for reparations. Watch the event here. 
Thursday, July 20, 2023
We're celebrating Pride in Washington all summer long. Head to the link below to find a celebration near you!
Monday, July 3, 2023
White and red text that says "Hope, Read, Act" against a blue background.
Hope. Read. Act. We will always choose hope over depair. Our community and vision for a truly just world depends on it.

Read about how we're combining hope and action to create a more just Washington.  
Thursday, July 13, 2023
BLOG POST: Automated systems are changing the way Child Welfare agencies work. Are the outcomes helping kids? Ajana Samant, Senior Staff Attorney at the ACLU Women’s Rights Project, looks into how agencies use these tools and the impact on families.
 
Monday, July 3, 2023
Have you ever asked yourself, "What are my rights?" We have answers. Learn about your rights before you need them. 
Friday, June 16, 2023
An image of a progress pride flag (Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple rainbow pride flag with an additional a chevron along the hoist that features black, brown, light blue, pink, and white stripes).
“Pride gives us a glimpse of what is possible when we just let people be, and when we are committed to keeping them safe.”

ACLU-WA Executive Director Michele Storms reflects on the beauty of Pride and the need to continue fighting alongside 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.
Friday, June 23, 2023
Know Your Rights: This guide is designed to help transgender individuals understand their legal rights in Washington State. It is not meant to provide legal advice. 
Thursday, June 22, 2023
Wing of a plane
BLOG POST: For Justin Wetherell, a nonbinary flight attendant at Alaska Airlines, advocating for a gender-inclusive uniform policy was a mental and emotional struggle, but they would “do it again in a heartbeat.” Justin reflects on the path to winning this policy and what it means for them and other nonbinary employees who want to show up to work as their full authentic selves.    
Monday, June 19, 2023
Juneteenth is a day to celebrate, commemorate, and activate. Read ACLU-WA Executive Director Michele Storms' Juneteenth message and head to our resource page to find ways to continue the fight for liberation this Juneteenth weekend and beyond.
Monday, June 19, 2023
A photo of a Juneteenth flag
Send a message to your members of Congress urging them to support H.R. 40. We have the power to make reparations for slavery real with H.R. 40, a bill that would set up a commission to examine the institution of slavery and its impact and make recommendations for reparations to Congress. Momentum is building, and the time to act is now. 
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
An image of a rainbow with the words "see you at pride" above it.
Join us at Pride events across Washington all summer long! From fighting against harmful anti-trans legislation to celebrating the long, rich history and fierce advocates of Pride, the ACLU of Washington has your back.
 
Monday, May 15, 2023
Spokane Pride logo
SPOKANE! We are so excited to join you for Pride on June 10. Be part of our first-ever contingent and get a free t-shirt.
Monday, May 15, 2023
We've got your back Pride 2023
WE’VE GOT YOUR BACK. Join us for Seattle Pride and show solidarity with LGBTQIA2S+ communities in Washington.
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Graphic asking you to give big today, just not to the ACLU of Washington
We invite you to support a community-based organization (or 2 or 3!) that is meaningful to you—just not the ACLU!
 
While our mission is fueled by individual support, we want today to be about the countless on-the-ground organizations that uplift us all.
Friday, April 28, 2023
Invite to ACLU-WA 2023 Session Highlights Event
[Tues, May 2, 5:30 PM] Let’s celebrate! Join us for a virtual end of legislative session celebration. We could not have achieved this year's legislative wins without your activism. We’re in this together, so let’s celebrate together.
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
A photo of directional signs at a crossroads
Head over to our new resource page to understand what happened during the 2023 legislative session and what could come next. 
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Decriminalizing vs. legalizing a substance. Do you know the difference? Read our blog post and check your answer.
Monday, April 10, 2023
Two hands holding megaphones
Tell the Senate: Restore retroactivity to EHB 1324!

Washington can stop punishing people for the same conviction AND help people who have already been hurt by this practice. EHB 1324 without retroactivity leaves people behind.
Monday, April 10, 2023
Today we celebrate the past and present contributions of labor and civil rights leader Dolores Huerta. Washington is the second state in the nation, after California, to recognize Ms. Huerta’s efforts to advance the rights of farm workers and empower women. Learn more about Ms. Huerta’s impactful activism. 
Sunday, April 9, 2023
Sign the petition and tell lawmakers to pass the House's budget proposal on immigrant health care. All Washingtonians should have access to health care, regardless of their immigration status. Help us make that a reality.
Friday, March 31, 2023
Sign in CON on E2SSB 5536 and tell lawmakers to stop the War on Drugs in Washington!
Thursday, March 30, 2023
Hands holding up the scales of justice
⭐New post: Building on over a decade of work to challenge racial bias in the courts, we achieved a major victory and step forward for race equity in the criminal legal system with the WA Supreme Court’s recent decision in State v. Sum.
Monday, March 20, 2023
Watch the livestream of the Race & Social Justice Initiative Summit this Friday, March 24, 4-7:30pm. 
Friday, March 10, 2023
A photo collage of two megaphones
Read ACLU-WA Executive Director Michele Storms' speech from the Legal Foundation of Washington's annual Goldmark Award Luncheon. 
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
A photo of a health care provider

Sign in PRO and let the Senate know that you support protecting health care providers.
 

Monday, March 6, 2023
Take urgent action to end restraint and isolation in Washington schools. 
Friday, March 3, 2023
BLOG: Victims of police violence deserve a fair chance at justice. This bill will provide that.
Thursday, March 2, 2023
BLOG: Japanese Americans and African Americans Advancing the Movement for Reparations and H.R. 40
Monday, February 27, 2023
Tell the Senate: Pass the Keep Our Care Act (SB 5241). Don't let big business deals restrict your access to health care.
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Happy #InternationalClashDay 2023!
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Black Futures Month
Sunday, January 29, 2023
Traffic Safety for All Bill.
Friday, January 20, 2023
No one should have to fear for their safety and privacy when accessing the health care they need. Sign in PRO on HB 1155.
Monday, January 16, 2023
Fighting for Justice, Inclusion to Reach MLK’s Beloved Community
Thursday, December 22, 2022
A Look Back at 2022: Leading With Our Values
Friday, December 2, 2022
📣Join us next week on December 6th at 5 p.m. and learn how you can help protect abortion access in both Washington state and the country.
Friday, October 21, 2022
Read ACLU-WA Executive Director Michele Storms' message on the meaning of radical hope.
Friday, October 21, 2022
Join us for an evening of inspiration and connection featuring keynote speaker Valarie Kaur. Art by Monyee Chau.
Monday, October 10, 2022
Don't just celebrate. Act.
Friday, September 23, 2022
Efforts to censor student expression are on the rise, nationally and in Washington
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Artwork by Monyee Chau that says "Radical Hope: ACLU-WA Annual Celebration, Free, online, October 21, 2022"
Join us online for an evening in celebration of radical hope on Friday, October 21, 2022 from 6:30pm-8pm.
Thursday, August 25, 2022
Prosecutors hold one of the keys to solving our mass incarceration crisis and the ballot box is currently the only way to hold them accountable.
 
The choices they make play a huge role in people’s lives and we should use our votes to show our values and create pressure to change. It is essential to elect reform-minded prosecutors who commit to reducing incarceration and increasing alternatives that are more effective at preventing future crime and improving community health and stability.
 
 
Wednesday, August 3, 2022
Flights and Rights: Abortion Discussion Recap
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
Collage of an eye, hand holding a smart phone, and a surveillance camera to represent privacy and technology
Join the ACLU-WA to learn from Upturn about the widespread power of law enforcement to search mobile phones and the implications of MDFT use on privacy and civil liberties.

Time: Thursday, July 28 at 3 p.m.
Tuesday, June 14, 2022
ACLU-WA is a proud presenting sponsor of Black Arts Fest, Seattle Center 6/17-6/19. Visit us in the Armory Saturday and Sunday. Logo painting by Lashae Parris.
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Register to march with us at the Seattle Pride Parade on June 26, 2022 at 11 a.m.
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Join us for a Flights & Rights discussion with community partners about the future of abortion beyond Roe. Washington state law will continue to protect abortion, but we must ensure that everyone – including those who must rely on our state – can access the health care they need.

Time: Tuesday, May 24 at 5 p.m.
Thursday, May 12, 2022
Join us Saturday, 5/14 11-1 pm at Cal Anderson Park in Seattle, or find a rally near you. #BansOffOurBodies
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Go to our "Give Big" page and donate time or money to organizations that support communities of color.
Monday, April 25, 2022
Learn about the failures of the War on Drugs and the future of drug policy reform here in Washington.
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Read our Q&A on abortion rights across the country and what we can do in Washington to expand and ensure abortion access for pregnant people here and from other states.
Monday, March 7, 2022
Flights & Rights: Legislative Review
Friday, February 18, 2022
Celebrate Black futures! We're partnering with Calypso Kitchen, Central Café & Juice Bar, Fresh Soul, and Southern Girl Delights to give you $5 off your order when you mention the ACLU (while supplies last). Click the link below for dates, locations, and details. 
Monday, January 3, 2022

Happy New Year! Washington became the 21st state to automatically restore the right to vote to all citizens upon release from prison. Starting JANUARY 1, over 26,000 Washingtonians currently on community custody will have their voting rights restored and be able to register to vote and participate in our democracy.

Wednesday, December 22, 2021
Flights and Rights: Access to Health Care
Wednesday, January 5, 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Monday, December 20, 2021
Police Killings are down 62% in 2021, and Policing Legislation is A Key Driver of the Decline.
Thursday, December 16, 2021

[DEADLINE SOON] The ACLU of Washington’s virtual Lobby Week kicks off January 17, 2022! You’ll learn how to advocate for important civil liberties bills and get the chance to meet with lawmakers.
Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Rethinking Thanksgiving: A Toolkit from the Indigenous Solidarity Network
Monday, November 15, 2021
Flights and Rights: Indigenous Justice 11/23/2021
Thursday, November 4, 2021
2022 budget deliberations at the City of Seattle are happening now, and the Seattle Police Department (SPD) budget still remains outsized compared to spending on other critical city departments.

Communities are calling for diverting funds towards community-based and community-led approaches to public safety - NOT simply moving police budget line items to other city departments but essentially leaving things unchanged.

Continue to demand true divestment and attend the next public hearing to weigh in on what the SPD budget will look like on November 10.
 
Read our updated post on the city's budget and find information on ways to take action.
Friday, October 8, 2021
Our 10/22 Annual Celebration will be broadcast from stolen land. We acknowledge broken treaties, genocide, and much work to be done to improve the lives of Indigenous peoples. The work we are doing will never be enough. Join us to learn more and hear from Snoqualmie Tribal Chairperson Robert do los Angeles, ACLU-WA Legal Committee Chair Bree Black Horse, ACLU-WA Organizer Zara Stevens, and attorney Crystal Pardue. Snoqualmie Falls illustration by @expertink.
 
Sunday, October 3, 2021
Join the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability to learn about Kent and King County candidates and their approach to policing reforms on 10/6 and 10/7.
Saturday, September 25, 2021
flights and rights drug policy reform
Join us on 9/28 at 5pm to learn about the next steps to end the War on Drugs here in Washington. Hear from @Commit2ChangeWA Steering Committee members: Ret. Police Captain Les Liggins, Carmen Pacheco-Jones, and Everett Maroon. Moderated by Alison Holcomb, @acluwa Political Director.
 
Friday, July 23, 2021
Join us this month at flights and rights as we introduce the ACLU’s nationwide plan to address America’s legacy of racism and systemic discrimination. Learn about our racial justice work in Washington.

Executive Director Michele Storms moderates a conversation with ACLU-WA staff: Antoinette Davis (Senior Staff Attorney), Enoka Herat (Police Practices and Immigration Counsel), and Jaime Hawk (Legal Strategy Director, Campaign for Smart Justice). Remember to support our beverage partners.
Friday, June 25, 2021
Join us for this month's flights and rights on Pride.
Wednesday, June 2, 2021
image of generic classroom with seats and green chalkboard

Spokane Family Demands Equitable Changes After Two Black Middle School Students Were Asked to Clean Cotton for Social Studies Lesson

Tuesday, June 1, 2021
image that reads: 100 years have passed since the tulsa race massacre. support reparations now.
100 years ago, on May 31, 1921, a white mob murdered up to 300 Black residents and destroyed almost every Black business, church, and home in the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa. This was a horrific act of racism fueled mob violence. What followed the massacre was a national forgetting: no reckoning, no justice, and no accountability.
 
Black property owners were never compensated, and neither the city nor the state committed money toward rebuilding Greenwood in the aftermath. In fact, up until recently, the massacre was hardly taught or discussed at all.
 
We will never achieve racial justice in America if this country does not examine the impact of slavery and its legacy – and make strides toward achieving reparatory justice.
 
Send a message to your members of Congress urging them to support H.R. 40. 
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Join Adriana Ortiz of El Centro de la Raza, Michael Byun of Asian Counseling & Referral Services (ACRS), Leah Rutman and Michele Storms of ACLU-WA for a conversation on health care issues facing immigrant communities. Online on May 25 at 5pm. 
 
Tuesday, May 4, 2021
It's that time of year again: give big, give small, give if you can give at all.
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
Support D.C. Statehood.
Thursday, April 8, 2021
“Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America” is streaming at SIFF from April 8-18. We suggest watching on April 13 starting at 3:05pm followed by the live Q&A at 5pm. “Interweaving lecture, personal anecdotes, interviews, and shocking revelations, (former) @ACLU deputy legal director Jeffery Robinson draws a stark timeline of anti-Black racism in the United States, from slavery to the modern myth of a post-racial America.”
 
Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Join @equalrightswa and ACLU-WA for a screening of @mlkfbi, with a special intro from director Sam Pollard and post-screening talk with Monisha Harrell of ERW, Aneelah Afzali of MAPS-AMEN (American Muslim Empowerment Network), and Kamau Chege of Washington for Black Lives, and Michele Storms of ACLU-WA.
 
“This film is a detailed account of the FBI surveillance that dogged King’s activism throughout the ’50s and ’60s, fueled by the racist and red-baiting paranoia of J. Edgar Hoover. In crafting a rich archival tapestry, featuring some revelatory restored footage of King, Pollard urges us to remember that true American progress is always hard-won.”
 
Thursday, March 25th, at 6PM.
Monday, March 8, 2021
Join us for Flights & Rights: Police Accountability on March 11 at 5pm, online.
Monday, March 1, 2021
online event announcement: townhall on mass incarceration
The crisis of COVID-19’s impact on incarcerated populations has brought back into focus the explosion of incarceration rates in our country over the past half-century and the stark evidence of institutionalized racism driving who gets sent to prison. Join us for a conversation about what steps Washington can take to get serious about ending mass incarceration.

Tuesday, March 2, 2021 - 6:00pm to 7:00pm

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This series of virtual conversations moderated by Enrique Cerna will explore the racial disparities and inequities in Washington’s public health and policing systems highlighted by COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement. State lawmakers are currently in legislative session where these issues, and the budget, are top priorities. Join us to learn how to put equity front and center in the Olympia debates.
Friday, February 26, 2021
NEW REPORT: As Black Futures Month closes, the next chapter of Black futures has just begun. The Movement for Black Lives (M4BL) has invited us to reframe traditional Black History Month as Black Futures Month. As we close out this celebratory month, we acknowledge the past struggles of Black people in this country, understanding that these struggles persist in the present day. Similarly, the ongoing work must continue, moving forward toward the bright hope for a better day for Black people and for all people. That work takes multiple forms and involves partners from throughout Washington and across the country. Here are just a few of the ways we are working for Black futures.
Friday, February 12, 2021

TAKE ACTION: Thousands of people from across our state are speaking out against police violence and brutality in solidarity with the families in our communities who have lost loved ones. The time is now. Delays cost precious lives. Urge your lawmaker to support SHB 1054, SHB 1310, and SHB 1202, legislation that will reduce police violence and improve public safety across the state.

Tuesday, February 9, 2021
image of coveillance toolkit materials

BREAKING: The ACLU-WA and the coveillance collective released the Coveillance Toolkit, which empowers people to notice and counter surveillance in their daily lives.

What's in the toolkit? Keep reading.

Coveillance is a proactive approach to the powerful and unprecedented surveillance technologies that dominate public life in 2021.

The Coveillance Toolkit includes four guides for offering workshops that focus on different aspects of surveillance:

1️⃣A history of surveillance workshop explores how surveillance has been deployed to monitor and police people from marginalized communities, including Black, Indigenous, Latinx, immigrant, religious, LGBTQ+ and other communities.

2️⃣A data mapping and stories guide traces the flow of information in a surveillance society to uncover how personal information travels and where it ends up.

3️⃣A virtual walking tour of downtown Seattle helps users practice spotting surveillance tools hidden in plain sight.

4️⃣A countersurveillance yoga workshop offers techniques for using the body to understand how surveillance systems operate and to reduce the physical stress triggered by always being watched.

For members of historically marginalized communities, surveillance is nothing new.

This toolkit aims to give the power back to people and communities.

Wednesday, January 27, 2021
NEW REPORT: WA Health Equity for Immigrants

Everyone deserves to have access to critical health services, regardless of immigration status.
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Image of surveillance cameras
Everyone is impacted by the lack of strong people-centric technology laws, but low-income people and people of color are disproportionately harmed. There is a long history of surveillance tools being used to target and oppress--from the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WW2 to the present day targeting of leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement.
 
Join us tomorrow at 5 p.m. to talk about surveillance, data privacy, and you.
 
Monday, January 25, 2021
image of police officers in full gear
NEW BLOG: Barriers to Police Accountability.

The Role of Collective Bargaining Agreements and Private Arbitration of Police Discipline Appeals

Police union collective bargaining and private arbitration have historically posed major obstacles to accountability.

Example: Seattle spent months consulting with community members and experts to draft one of the best police accountability ordinances in the country. It passed unanimously, but over three years later, important parts of it have been blocked from going into effect.

Why? Because in collective bargaining negotiations, the city agreed to police union demands that parts of the ordinance be scrapped.

This problem is not unique to Seattle. SB 5134 would remove certain accountability measures from collective bargaining so that critical local changes like these could not be undone.

Private arbitration is also a major barrier to accountability. This allows  disciplinary action against officers to be overturned or changed altogether.

EX: In 2018, private arbitration led to the reinstatement of Seattle Police Officer Adley Shepherd, who was fired for punching a handcuffed woman in the face and fracturing her eye.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

We support SB 5134 because it is an essential part of the package of bills for 2021 aimed at strengthening police accountability.

Read the full article and learn how you can get involved.

 
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
🎺BREAKING: The Selah Alliance for Equality (S.A.F.E.) and Selah residents filed a lawsuit against the City of Selah, its Mayor, and its City Administrator for censoring the free speech of Selah residents in violation of the First Amendment.

As nationwide protests grew in the wake of George Floyd’s death, a number of Selah residents gathered to demonstrate publicly and placed temporary chalk messages and art in support of racial equality in public places throughout the city.

BUT, in response, Selah city officials made statements and took actions indicating that the exercise of free speech in support of the Black Lives Matter movement was unwelcome, wrongfully singling out the chalk messages for erasure, designating them as “graffiti.”

➡️ But that's not all. Keep reading. ⬇️

City officials also censored public comments, confiscated and destroyed signs, AND encouraged private citizens to remove and destroy the signs. It's clear that the city of Selah is actively trying to silence Black communities.

We shouldn't have to be saying this, but: Free speech is a constitutional right and the city of Selah is responsible for protecting it.

Read the full release below.
https://www.aclu-wa.org/news/selah-alliance-equality-and-selah-residents-file-lawsuit-against-city-selah-censoring-black
 
 
Monday, December 7, 2020
📣BREAKING: A federal judge has held the city of Seattle in contempt of court after finding multiple violations of court orders barring the Seattle Police Department from indiscriminately using chemical weapons and other less lethal weapons against crowds.

Read about each of these violations below:

➡️ Sept. 7: an officer sprayed several retreating protesters in the face with OC spray. The officer approached the protesters from behind while riding a bicycle, and there was no specific imminent threat of physical harm against the officer.

➡️ Sept. 7: an officer threw a blast ball – an explosive filled with pepper spray – indiscriminately into a group of protesters, even though he admittedly did not know who his target was.

➡️ Sept. 22: an officer was ordered to throw a blast ball into a crowd of protesters at a march in Capitol Hill, despite there being no apparent physical threat to officers. According to the court’s order, a desire to create separation between protesters and police does not authorize the use of less lethal weapons.

➡️ Sept. 23: an officer threw a blast ball into a crowd of protesters and Judge Jones determined the officer demonstrated a clear lack of care for where the blast ball landed and that it was an indiscriminate deployment, therefore violating the Court’s orders.

These are a few examples of SPD's blatant disregard for the protection of free speech and freedom of assembly. On Sept. 23, SPD deployed around 30 blast balls – yet the City only provided body cam footage for 2 of the instances.

LET US BE CLEAR: this is retaliation against the nationwide and longstanding call to protect Black lives.

And we have the right to do something about it.
 
Saturday, November 28, 2020
It's Small Business Saturday! Today we encourage shopping local, small business, and Black, Indigenous, People of Color owned! Check out some of the vendors we worked with for our Centennial Celebration last month: @marisol.ortega @soundexcursions @whereyaatmatt @mcbridesisters @maisonnoirwines @osterialaspiga @boehmscandies
Tuesday, November 24, 2020
@kexp DJ Gabriel Teodros created a playlist especially for today's Flights & Rights.
Monday, November 23, 2020
Check out our brilliant speaker panel for tomorrow's Flights and Rights!

📷of Victoria Plumage by Sharon H. Chang.
Saturday, November 21, 2020
Join us for Flights & Rights on Tuesday to try your luck at winning a set of our koozies. @kexp
 
Saturday, November 21, 2020
As we honor Native American heritage this month (and anticipate an upcoming food centered holiday), we also learn more about the role food plays in Native American history and culture.
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Join the ACLU-WA and partners for an important talk this evening.
@acog_org @prochoicewashington @ppvnh @plannedparenthood @legal_voice
Friday, October 23, 2020
Make the most of your Friday with @djmichelemyers (with @kexp) playlist starting at 4:30pm, leading into tonight’s Centennial Celebration, on Spotify.
Monday, October 19, 2020
The right to vote is fundamental to American democracy.

This electoral year is like no other, but one thing that hasn't changed is the historical attempt to deny this right with barriers such as poll taxes, felony disenfranchisement, gerrymandering and disinformation campaigns.

We'll be discussing barriers to voting in Washington as well as what can be done about them in this upcoming town hall.
Thursday, October 15, 2020
Get inspired at our Centennial Celebration. We’ll be in conversation with Marcus Green (@southseattleemerald), Heather McKimmie (@disabilityrightswa), and Pui-Yan Lam (@scar_spokane). Moderated by ACLU-WA Executive Director Michele Storms.
 
📸 by @thisisdizzle and @therajahbose
Thursday, October 15, 2020
BREAKING: We just released the first article in our upcoming ACLU blog series entitled: What will it take to stop police violence?

This series will be exploring one approach to ending police violence: divesting from police and reinvesting in communities.

Some issues this series will dig into:

-Why the City budget matters for equity
-SPD's reliance on overtime hours
-The social costs of community policing efforts such as the Navigation Team
-Our efforts to reduce mass incarceration through depolicing and decriminalization

The problem is complex and the urgency is great. We invite you to join us as we explore the reimagining of public safety.

Link to the article in bio.
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
@kexp DJ Eva Walker of The Black Tones made a special playlist on Spotify for tonight’s Flights & Rights. Yes!
Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Celebrate in style with us on October 23! Order a $15 swag bag with a gorgeous bandana and enamel pin made by Marisol Ortega, a postcard set, a webcam cover, and other treats.
Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Beer flights for your fundamental rights! Mention the ACLU and get $5 off beer at @luckyenvbrewing in Seattle’s Ballard/Fremont neighborhood on 10/14, 3-9pm. Join us for a virtual Flights & Rights on potential impacts of this election in our state.
Monday, October 12, 2020
This is the first general election with WA’s Native American Voting Rights Act in place.
Monday, October 12, 2020
We served as amicus, or friend-of-the-court, for a recent victory affirming tribal sovereignty. Congratulations to our lead attorney on the case, Crystal Pardue, ACLU-WA Equal Justice Works Fellow!
Saturday, October 10, 2020
📣We're suing the WA Department of Licensing on behalf of individuals that have had their licenses suspended simply because they were unable to pay the fines and fees.

➡️Danielle Pierce, one of our plaintiffs, owes over $12k in traffic fines that started from a simple speeding ticket - she can no longer drive her car to work or take her daughter to school. Most of these costs are just additional fees, interest, and collection costs.

➡️For Lacy Spicer, a license suspension due to her inability to pay fines and fees from traffic tickets have made it really difficult for Lacy to maintain employment. She was unable to accept a job offer DIRECTLY due to this suspension.

⚖️The American legal system is founded on the principle that everyone, regardless of means, is treated the same under the law. Washington’s license suspension laws violate that principle.
Thursday, October 8, 2020
The election is just a few weeks away. Join us at next week's Flights and Rights for a deeper dive into issues such as access to the ballot and Washington's vote-by-mail system.
Thursday, October 8, 2020
image of shaina shepherd musical artist
Celebrate with us on October 23 and delight the night away with music from singer songwriter Shaina Shepherd! @shainashepherdmusic @bearaxeband
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
Celebrate with us on October 23! Order Dinner and drinks by Chef Matt Lewis of Where Ya At Matt and Chef Sabrina Tinsley of Osteria La Spiga – delivered between Marysville and University Place, Bothell, Kent and pretty much everywhere in between, thanks to the chefs and Sound Excursions.

(Folks outside of the delivery area – stay tuned for information on deals from restaurants near you.)
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
The glaring disparities in how COVID-19 has impacted Washington communities can only be understood through the lens of America’s original pandemic: racism.

Join the ACLU of Washington and critically acclaimed broadcast journalist Enrique Cerna as we examine the racial disparities and inequities in Washington’s public health and policing systems highlighted by COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Friday, September 11, 2020
flights and rights event announcement graphic - national security and surveillance
HAPPENING TONIGHT @5PM: Join us for a conversation on national security and surveillance. Hastily passed 45 days after 9/11 in the name of national security, the Patriot Act was the first of many changes to surveillance laws that made it easier for the government to spy. By expanding the authority to monitor, the Patriot Act effectively turns ordinary Americans into suspects.

Michele Storms (ACLU-WA Executive Director), Jennifer Lee (ACLU-WA Technology & Liberty Project Manager), and Sahar Fathi (former ACLU-WA board member) will share a historical overview and explore how this affects Washingtonians today.

Grab a drink (from one of our previous sponsors in our highlights) or beverage of your choice and meet us online. 
Monday, August 31, 2020
Decarceration and the reimagining of the criminal legal system must continue. We CANNOT go back to business as usual and pre-COVID levels of mass incarceration, racial disparities, and overcrowded jails.
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
Goliath, meet David. @TheFightMovie is now available everywhere. #TheFightMovie The first 100 people to create an account using the code ACLUWA will be able to watch the film for free!

Tweet your thoughts of the film to @nwfilmforum and @aclu_wa and we’ll send five folks an ACLU prize pack!
Friday, August 21, 2020
ACLU-WA is proud to support Alki Beach Pride’s virtual celebration weekend. Visit Alki Beach Pride for the full list of restaurants offering food and drink discounts when guests provide the password “LOVE WINS”.

An ACLU swag bag full of goodies will be handed out at participating restaurants while supplies last!
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
On next weeks Flights and Rights, it's time to reevalute the need for police in schools.

Students who are Black, Native American, Pacific Islander, and Latinx, are disproportionately disciplined, suspended, and expelled from school.

ALL students have a right to education, and we need to work towards more effective approaches to build positive school environments and help students.
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Hey @virginia_mason: Why are you celebrating 100 years by restricting health care services to patients? Put communities first! Don’t let religious doctrine block access to necessary reproductive, end of life, and LGBTQ+ health care.

Send a message to Virginia Mason and urge them to put the needs of patients FIRST.
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
(because they do). Learn more on critical dates, deadlines, and voting rights information in our Vote Center.
Monday, July 27, 2020
As promised, we'll see you in court, @seattlepd.

#blacklivesmatter
Friday, July 24, 2020
Protestors’ calls for an end to systemic racism and police brutality must not be met with further displays of excessive force—by either federal agents or local law enforcement. We're ready to go back to court.
Thursday, July 23, 2020
Don't miss tonight's virtual Flights and Rights at 5 p.m. on LGBTQ+ rights! Grab your beverage of choice from the fridge (or from the list of breweries from local communities in our IG story) and meet us online or via phone! Pride 2020 for the ACLU is about being resilient together. For this virtual event, advocates will speak on the implications of the landmark win at the Supreme Court, how to center Black trans people in the movement and the Trump administration’s removal of nondiscrimination protections when it comes to health care and health insurance. Executive Director Michele Storms will moderate the conversation with a panel of community activists. Hear from Jaelynn Scott of @lavenderrightsproject, Ebony Miranda of @blmskc, Denise Diskin of QLaw Foundation, Elayne Wylie of @genderjusticewa, and Leah Rutman of ACLU. P.S: Get ready for the event by listening to some uniquely curated Pride 2020 jams by ACLU-WA staff and @kexp's The Weekly Mix podcast with DJ Riz and DJ El Toro.
Tuesday, July 7, 2020
(RESCHEDULED): Our virtual Flights and Rights event on LGBTQ+ issues has been postponed until 5 p.m. on July 23, 2020. RSVP to learn more about the landmark win at the Supreme Court, how to center Black trans people in the movement and the Trump administration’s removal of nondiscrimination protections when it comes to health care and health insurance.
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
[WEBINAR]: Reproductive rights, abortion access, systemic racism in health care, and the significant disproportionate impact on Black and Brown bodies. Join us on July 1 at 5:30 p.m!
Saturday, July 4, 2020
This July 4th, we're still fighting for the stated ideals that we all deserve: equality for all. Freedom is still long overdue for our Black communities. Learn how you can support the #blacklivesmatter movement. Photo credit: Noah Lubin
Monday, November 15, 2021
Friday, August 25, 2023
Pencils. Notebooks. Handcuffs? Join us on Tuesday, September 12, for a conversation about reimagining the future of accountability for youth in our state. Students are heading back to school to prepare for their future, but some will unfortunately be caught in a system that leads to punishment and incarceration. For decades, Washington has invested in increasingly harsher punishments for young people – some as young as eight years old have faced charges. Has it made our kids safer and more successful?