News Release:
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
SEATTLE — Michele Storms, executive director of the ACLU of Washington, had the following reaction to The Associated Press’ call of the 2024 presidential election for Donald Trump:
“A second Trump administration will bring significant challenges to the defense of our democratic systems and our civil rights and liberties, impacting Washington state and the entire country. The ACLU of Washington is ready. We are prepared to take immediate action not only to defend, but to extend rights and liberties for everyone in our state.
“The ACLU of Washington will continue to advocate for policies that expand access to abortion and gender-affirming care and build greater protections for patients, providers, and those helping others seek care in our state. Given the threat of federal and out-of-state attempts to reduce access to care, we will work to strengthen our state’s shield law. We will also defend patient privacy by advocating to tighten protections in Washington’s groundbreaking My Health, My Data Act.
“We take the President-elect at his word when he promised to target the “enemy within.” As we did during the first Trump administration, we will vigorously defend free speech and protest rights against federal, state and local suppression and will ensure that law enforcement complies with existing laws limiting the use of force.
“The ACLU of Washington will also sustain and expand state and local protections against mass deportation and immigrant raids. We will defend and advocate to strengthen the Keep Washington Working Act, which prevents local and state officials from participating in or collaborating with federal immigration enforcement. And we will call for greater support for newly arrived immigrants.
“We will push for greater state civil rights and anti-discrimination protections in anticipation of federal attempts to restrict protections. We will fight against attempts to censor academic discussion of race, gender and systemic oppression. And we will curtail overly broad government data collection and sharing, which enables abusive surveillance.
“As it was during the first Trump administration, Washington state has an opportunity to lead the country as a bastion of liberty. The ACLU of Washington has a vision for the future where everyone in Washington lives with dignity and equity, enjoying freedoms unimpeded by racial and economic injustice and other forms of oppression. That vision is bigger than one Presidential administration and we are prepared to fight for that vision on Day One and for the long haul, as we have for over 90 years.”
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