Stories from the ACLU of Washington

Search by topic

You Might be Getting Married on June 30th

Published: 
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Did you know that all same-sex state registered domestic partnerships (SRDPs) in Washington will automatically be converted to marriages on June 30th?  Last week at Seattle City Hall, a panel of experts gathered to answer questions from the public about what should be expected and more importantly, what can be done to prevent their SRDPs from converting into a marriage.
Read more

Otis Walter Leaves a Legacy for Civil Liberties

Published: 
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Otis Walter passed away last June at the age of 92. He left his entire estate to the ACLU of Washington and the ACLU of Pennsylvania because he so strongly believed in the broad range of issues on which the ACLU works. He first became a card-carrying member as a teenager in Pennsylvania.  Dr. Walter said he did not want any sort of recognition for his planned gift during his lifetime. We wish to honor Dr. Walter as a kind and loving advocate for civil liberties.
Read more

Hopes for Police Reform: Signs of Change, Need for Vigilance

Published: 
Monday, May 12, 2014
Transforming an institution’s practices and culture takes endurance, dedication, and tenacity.  Doubly so when attempting to transform a police department - an institution modeled on the military - into one that understands its roles as “servants of the Constitution” and “guardians of the community,” as Sue Rahr describes it.
Read more

Failed Experiments: Stop All Lethal Injections Now

Published: 
Monday, May 12, 2014
Assurances about lethal injection rest on the premise that inmates are sedated and unconscious before other excruciating drugs are administered. The horrifying experiences of recent executions make clear these assurances are false. The drugs used in recent executions produced not a sleep into death but many wakeful minutes of struggle and pain. Such executions are clear violations of the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment and require investigation and action.
Read more

Monique Spivey: Making a change for herself and others

Published: 
Friday, May 9, 2014
Monique Spivey is in the process of changing her life and hopefully that of many others. She has long worked as a caterer, but the long hours and a recent knee injury have set her on a course to get out of the kitchen and into her community.
Read more

Liberty Link: Man Arrested for Videography Settles with City for $8,000

Published: 
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
A man whom Sunnyside police arrested for videotaping a SWAT team has received an $8,000 settlement, reports the Yakima Herald-Republic. After the man posted a videotape of his arrest on YouTube, police requested the charges be dropped and the man sued for the violation of his rights.
Read more

Student Rights Icon Inspires Students

Published: 
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
After a solid year of traveling over 25,000 miles across 41 states and speaking to at least 100 schools and community groups, on May 1st the Tinker Tour made its final stop at Mountlake Terrace High School. The tour features First Amendment advocate Mary Beth Tinker, the namesake of the landmark student rights case Tinker v. Des Moines.... 
Read more

Liberty Link: Court Ruling Spurs Counties to Stop Holding People for ICE

Published: 
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Some good news: A recent federal court ruling in Oregon is spurring Washington counties to stop holding immigrants in their jail past the time they are eligible for release. The court found that detainer requests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are just that – optional requests – and sheriffs could be liable for violating an individual’s constitutional rights by continuing to hold the person.
Read more

Automatic Conversion from Domestic Partnerships to Marriage is Rapidly Approaching

Published: 
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
On June 30, 2014, all state-registered same-sex domestic partnerships will automatically convert to marriages. According to the state registry, there are close to 6,000 registered same-sex domestic partnerships in Washington, many of whom do not know that they are about to enter into matrimony whether they wish to or not.
Read more

Clive Pontusson: Volunteering for a Vision of a Fair and Equal Society

Published: 
Monday, April 28, 2014
A year ago, Clive Pontusson made a New Year’s resolution to start volunteering, and he has been volunteering at our front desk ever since. He thinks it is really important to volunteer a portion of your time, especially for a cause you believe in. The ACLU was on his radar because of its leadership role in the R-74 campaign for marriage equality, which Clive thinks will be the defining issue for our era.
Read more

Marco Martinez: Working for Justice

Published: 
Friday, April 25, 2014
The son of Mexican immigrants, Marco Martinez grew up in Wenatchee. He is now working on his undergraduate degree at UW in Law Societies and Justice with a minor in Political Science. After graduating in June, he plans to study for the LSAT and to apply for law school next year.  Marco wants to get involved in reforming our criminal justice and immigrations systems.
Read more

Liberty Link: New Washington school discipline data shows need for change

Published: 
Monday, April 21, 2014
The ACLU of Washington has been working with allies to replace suspensions and expulsions with smarter, more effective forms of discipline.  According to new data from our friends at Washington Appleseed, students of color, students in special education programs, and students from lower-income families receive suspensions and expulsions at a higher rate than other students for similar misbehavior.
Read more

Pages