Milwaukee Police Department Continues Discriminatory Stop-And-Frisks Despite 2018 Settlement of Lawsuit

ACLU of Wisconsin Responds to Charging Decision in Fatal Shooting Of Alvin Cole

ACLU of Wisconsin Hires Tomás Clasen As Community Engagement Manager

Milwaukee Bucks “Bucks Vote” T-Shirt Will Benefit ACLU of Wisconsin, League of Women Voters of Milwaukee

ACLU of Wisconsin Calls for Dismissal of Charges for Curfew Violations, Asks for Investigation Into Excessive Use of Force by Law Enforcement

ACLU of Wisconsin Responds to President Trump’s Remarks in Kenosha

Governor and Attorney General Should Investigate Potential Crimes, Civil Rights Violations Committed By Law Enforcement During Protests

ACLU Calls for Immediate Resignation of Kenosha Police Chief and Kenosha County Sheriff for Failed Response to Attempted Murder of Jacob Blake

ACLU of Wisconsin Commends Waukesha County Jail for Lifting Religious Text and Practice Restrictions in Local Jail

ACLU of Wisconsin Teams Up with Milwaukee Bucks to Increase Voting Participation, Civic Engagement in Wisconsin

ACLU of Wisconsin Calls For Reduced Law Enforcement Presence Due to Scaled Down Democratic National Convention

ACLU of Wisconsin Stresses Need for Equity, Safety Amid Pandemic During Upcoming School Year

ACLU of Wisconsin Calls for Stop and Frisk Compliance, Community Input In Search for Milwaukee Police Chief After Morales’ Demotion

After Prison Population Increase, the ACLU of Wisconsin Calls on Leadership to Reduce Incarcerated Population During Pandemic

ACLU of Wisconsin: President Trump Should Not Deploy Troops to Milwaukee

ACLU of Wisconsin To Milwaukee Common Council: “No Weapons of War for Milwaukee Police Department”

ACLU Condemns Federal Abductions in Oregon and Reported Plans to Bring Similar Tactics to Milwaukee

ACLU of Wisconsin Comments on Proposed Tear Gas, Pepper Spray Policy Changes, Lawsuit Update in New Requirements for Police Chief Morales

ACLU of Wisconsin Criticizes Off-Duty Officer’s Assault on Photographers and Milwaukee Police Department’s Response

ACLU of Wisconsin Asks Sheboygan Police to Release Footage Of Officer-Involved Fatal Shooting To Victim’s Family

ACLU of Wisconsin Hires James Stein as Data and Organizing Specialist

Milwaukee Fire & Police Commission Must Listen to Demands for Change, No Matter Who is in Charge

ACLU of Wisconsin Calls for Transparent Investigation into Fatal Shooting of Kevan Ruffin

New Report Finds Widespread Voting Disenfranchisement in Wisconsin Jails

ACLU of Wisconsin Hires New Communications Director

ACLU of Wisconsin Comment on Assembly Speaker Robin Vos Scapegoating Immigrants Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

ACLU of Wisconsin Denounces Milwaukee Police Chief for Aggressive Action Toward Protesters, Demands Compliance with Court-Ordered Reforms

ACLU of Wisconsin Condemns Excessive Force By Police Against Protesters

ACLU of Wisconsin Statement on Governor Evers’ Decision to Deploy National Guard to Milwaukee

ACLU of Wisconsin Calls on Elected Officials to Denounce Rise of Racist Attacks on Asian-Americans Amid COVID-19

With COVID-19 Cases Rising at Wisconsin Corrections Facilities, Data Model Shows Mass Incarceration Will Increase Death Toll By 100,000

New ACLU Report: Black People Four Times More Likely to Get Arrested for Marijuana Possession in Wisconsin

Wisconsin has 14th highest racial disparities in arrests, among 17 states where arrests for marijuana increased from 2010 to 2018

ACLU of Wisconsin Files Lawsuit in State Supreme Court Seeking Release of Vulnerable People Amid COVID-19

An outbreak of COVID-19 in Wisconsin prisons could overwhelm available hospital beds and ICU units in communities where prisons are located

Youth Advocates Remain Committed to Closing Wisconsin Youth Prisons Following Monitor’s Report

ACLU of Wisconsin Commends Governor Evers for Vetoing Prison Expanding Legislation

ACLU of Wisconsin Statement on Appeals Court Ruling Blocking Attempted Voter Purge

ACLU of Wisconsin Condemns Expansion of Trump’s Travel Ban

Hundreds Rally at State Capitol to Push for Criminal Justice Reform

ACLU of Wisconsin Condemns Legislators for Doubling Down on Failed Policies that Weaken Public Safety

ACLU of Wisconsin Statement on Menomonee Falls School Board Decision to Retire Racist Mascot

“We are pleased with the decision by the Menomonee Falls School board to end the perpetuation of negative and damaging stereotypes about indigenous people through the use of a racist mascot.”

ACLU of Wisconsin Commends Waukesha County Sheriff for Lifting Religious Text Restrictions in Local Jail

"It is paramount that those incarcerated in our jails and prisons have the ability to practice their religion free from government interference or proselytizing."

ACLU of Wisconsin Statement on Governor Evers Signing Anti-Protest Bill Into Law

“We are deeply disappointed by Governor Evers’ decision to sign this harmful and unnecessary legislation, despite strong opposition from environmental and civil rights advocates and Native Tribes across the state.”

ACLU of Wisconsin Calls on Menomonee Falls to Retire Racist Mascot

“Race-based mascots and imagery perpetuate damaging stereotypes and undermine the educational experience of all students,” said Chris Ott, ACLU of Wisconsin executive director.

ACLU of Wisconsin Condemns Anti-Protest Bill

AB 426 seeks to silence activists with the threat of felony charges for protesting at “critical infrastructure” facilities

Statement from ACLU of Wisconsin on Milwaukee Police Collaboration with ICE

On September 23rd, 2019, officers from the MPD assisted ICE in the arrest of Alejandro De La Cruz Espinoza as he returned home with his wife and three young children.

ACLU condemns Waukesha County Sheriff’s decision to renew Wisconsin’s only direct partnership with ICE

The Sheriff’s Department last held a “public” meeting to discuss the 287(g) program in September 2018.

ACLU sues Milwaukee Police Department for unconstitutional conduct during Sherman Park demonstrations

“The Milwaukee Police Department has demonstrated its custom of using excessive force to disperse people peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights, and our clients suffered real harm as a result of that policy.”

ACLU of Wisconsin challenges Wisconsin’s Unconstitutional Parole System

People should not spend life in prison for crimes committed as children

ACLU Blueprint proposes cutting Wisconsin prison population and spending

The Smart Justice 50-State Blueprint is the first-ever analysis of its kind and will serve as a tool for activists, advocates and policymakers to push for transformational change to the criminal justice system.

ACLU of Wisconsin’s Board of Directors condemns lame duck session

This costly legislative overreach seeks to harm Wisconsin families by changing laws pertaining to insurance, elections, and other issues essential to our state.

Wisconsin Jury Awards $780k to Transgender Women Denied Health Care Coverage

"No one should be denied health care because of who they are."

ACLU Hires Maxine Webb as Development Director

In Maxine's role as Development Director, she leads the revenue generation strategy for the statewide Annual & Major Gifts programs and represents the ACLU in the community.

Federal Court Rules Wisconsin State Employee Health Insurance Must Cover for Transgender Workers

Court rules that the State’s Policy Amounted to Sex Discrimination

Inadequate policies and practices of Wisconsin sheriffs threaten rights of immigrant communities in the state

Amid growing concern over harsh measures against immigrants, ACLU outreach to all county sheriffs in Wisconsin has found few policies that meet constitutional requirements.

Milwaukee Common Council approves historic settlement with ACLU, with sweeping police reforms to end unconstitutional stops and frisks of Black and Latinx people

Agreement would require Milwaukee to overhaul police department policies, training, supervision, accountability, and community engagement

ACLU Hires Sean Wilson as Smart Justice Statewide Organizer

Sean is an activist who grew up in Milwaukee’s 53206 neighborhood.

ACLU Showcases Photographs of the Resistance at April 20 Gallery Night

The event will be held Friday, April 20, from 5 to 10 p.m. at the ACLU Milwaukee office, 207 E. Buffalo St., Suite 325.

ACLU-WI Announces Voter Education Push Around Wisconsin Supreme Court Race

Effort includes voter outreach by mail, phone and online

ACLU hires Milwaukee native Cassandra Bowers as Communications Director

Cassandra holds a master’s degree in management with a concentration in leadership diversity from Cardinal Stritch University.

Waukesha County Sheriff Applies To Have Deputies Become Part of Trump’s Immigration Force

This is not the first time the Waukesha County Sheriff has sought to participate in the 287(g) program.

Wisconsin Gerrymandering Case Before the U.S. Supreme Court Tomorrow

ACLU of Wisconsin filed a friend-of-the-court brief arguing gerrymandering scheme is unconstitutional

Federal Court finds current conditions of confinement for youth at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake Schools unconstitutional

Last month, Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake incarcerated 166 youth, and kept an average of 27 youth per day in solitary confinement.

ACLU of Wisconsin Files Lawsuit Demanding Documents on Implementation of Trump Muslim Ban

Today’s action is part of a total of 13 FOIA lawsuits filed by ACLU affiliates across the country.

Three Environmental Justice Groups Ask Court to Block I-94 Expansion

WisDOT is refusing to include necessary public transit expansion as part of the project.

ACLU Challenges Milwaukee Police Department’s Unconstitutional Stop-and-Frisk Program Conducted Without Reasonable Suspicion and Based on Racial Profiling

For the Last Eight Years, the Milwaukee Police Department Has Subjected Tens of Thousands of Innocent People to Unconstitutional Stops and Frisks, Disrupting Their Daily Lives Because They Are Black or Latino

ACLU of Wisconsin hires Ott as executive director

As statewide membership doubles, civil liberties organization brings the national experience of a Wisconsin native to its statewide office in Milwaukee.

Civil Rights Groups File Class Action Lawsuit Against Wisconsin State Officials for Unconstitutional Use of Solitary Confinement, Other Inhumane Conditions in State-Run Youth Correctional Facilities

Prior to state and federal raids on the facility in December 2015, staff also regularly physically abused youth in the facility, even breaking their arms and legs in some cases.

Community Organizations Push for Accountability of Police Use of Surveillance Technology

They signed on to a letter opposing the recently proposed “Public Safety Plan.”

ACLU of Wisconsin Condemns Milwaukee Police Department Arrests of Organizer Jarrett English and State Representative Jonathan Brostoff

Both men were handcuffed, forced to the ground, involuntarily searched and placed in a paddy wagon.

Twenty Milwaukee Organizations Express Serious Misgivings with Proposed Public Safety Action Plan

We are writing on behalf of an array of community groups to express our serious misgivings regarding the recently released draft “Public Safety Action Plan.”

Statement from ACLU of Wisconsin on Sherman Park Incidents, Calls for Immediate Release of Video Footage

"The ACLU of Wisconsin urges local leaders to heed the cries for solace, help, and change from residents, young and old."

Statement from ACLU of Wisconsin on MPD’s Covered Nametags at Protest

This is a flagrant violation of an MPD policy that is already weak and rarely enforced.

ACLU of Wisconsin urges U.S. DOJ representatives to conduct investigation into Milwaukee Police Department practices that matter most to residents

Including phony stops and invasive surveillance

ACLU Comment on Wisconsin Voter Ballot Access Decision

A federal district court today rejected a request to increase access to the ballot for Wisconsin voters.

“We’re not there yet.”

ACLU of Wisconsin Statement on Milwaukee Police Department Body Worn Camera October 16, 2015 proposal

Racial Justice Supporters tell DNR: “We Oppose Water Diversion to Waukesha”

The groups object to the application because diverting water to the suburbs will worsen segregation and racial disparities in the region.

Milwaukee Voucher Schools Still Discriminate Against Students with Disabilities

Four years after receiving a complaint against voucher schools for discriminating against students with disabilities, Wisconsin still isn’t holding these schools accountable.

ACLU Moves to Block Wisconsin Voter ID Law Following Supreme Court Action

Until today, the law had been placed on hold by the Supreme Court while it considered whether to hear the case.

MPD Stops Too Often Undermine Community Trust, ACLU Survey Finds

Today, the ACLU of Wisconsin released survey results of over 800 Milwaukee residents’ attitudes about police.

ACLU Seeks Supreme Court Review in Wisconsin Voter ID Case

The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a federal appeals court ruling upholding Wisconsin's voter ID law.

Statement from ACLU of Wisconsin on DA Decision in Police Shooting of Dontre Hamilton

Statement from Chris Ahmuty, ACLU of Wisconsin Executive Director

ACLU Comment on U.S. Supreme Court Action on Wisconsin Voter ID Law

The U.S. Supreme Court today stayed an appeals court order that had allowed Wisconsin's voter ID law to take effect.

Supreme Court Lets Stand Four Appeals Court Decisions Requiring States to Allow Same-Sex Couples to Marry

Paves Way for the Freedom to Marry Nationwide

ACLU Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Block Wisconsin Voter ID Law

The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a motion asking the U.S. Supreme Court to halt Wisconsin's voter ID law.

ACLU Comment on Federal Appeals Court Action on Wisconsin Voter ID

The full Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals today declined to rehear a three-judge panel's order reinstating Wisconsin's voter ID law prior to the midterm election

Statement from ACLU of Wisconsin on Voter ID Stay

Today, the 7th Circuit issued a ruling lifting Judge Aldeman's stay and allowing the law to go into effect before the November elections.

ACLU of Wisconsin’s Freedom to Marry Case to go to U.S. Supreme Court

The Attorney General of Wisconsin appealed the decisions in the marriage equality case Wolf v. Walker to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Upholds Freedom to Marry in Wisconsin

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld the district court decision that the discriminatory amendment to the Wisconsin state constitution preventing same-sex couples from marrying is unconstitutional.

Wisconsin Unites for Marriage Coalition Launched Today

New statewide marriage equality coalition to advocate for the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in Wisconsin

WI State Supreme Court Allows Government to Obtain “Harassment Injunction” Against Protester

Recognizes injunctions must be clear and narrow when speech involved.

ACLU: Lift Stay, Restore Marriage for Same-Sex Couples in Wisconsin

Attorneys for the ACLU filed a motion asking Judge Barbara Crabb to vacate the stay she entered and allow marriages for same-sex couples to continue.

ACLU Urges Wisconsin to Reach Quick Decision on Appeal of Marriage Case

Couples Left in Limbo While Decision Striking Down Ban on Marriage for Same-Sex Couples is Put on Hold

Federal Court Issues Permanent Injunction

Requires clerks to issue licenses to same-sex couples; but stays decision

ACLU of Wisconsin Files Proposed Injunction on Marriage Ban

The proposed language, would, among other things, require county clerks to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples and also provide for recognition of marriage:

Federal Court Judge Crabb defers decision on stay; sets hearing date for proposed injunction

Today, Judge Crabb held a hearing on Attorney General Van Hollen’s request to ‘stay’ her decision.

Federal Court Strikes Down Wisconsin Marriage Ban

U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Crabb today struck down the discriminatory amendment to the Wisconsin state constitution preventing same-sex couples from marrying.

Planned Parenthood and ACLU in Federal Court Tuesday to Protect Safe and Legal Abortion in Wisconsin

Trial Begins Tuesday in Case Challenging Dangerous Restrictions that Restrict Safe and Legal Abortion Statewide

ACLU Responds to Voting Rights Appeal

Wisconsin state officials today appealed the April 29 federal court ruling that struck down the state's voter ID law as unconstitutional and in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA).

Federal Court Strikes Down Wisconsin Voter ID Law

ACLU represented plaintiffs at trial in November

ACLU of Wisconsin’s Annual Spring Gallery Night Event Explores Art and Privacy

The ACLU of Wisconsin is delighted to announce that its annual Gallery Night exhibit will feature drawings by Thomas Gaudynski and prints by Nicolas Lampert.

ACLU Seeks Swift Ruling to Block State From Enforcing Marriage Ban

The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Wisconsin and the law firm of Mayer Brown filed a preliminary injunction yesterday seeking an order that the state may not enforce Wisconsin’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples.

ACLU Supports Bill to Repeal Ban on Marriage for Same-Sex Couples

The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin commends two state lawmakers for introducing a bill today to repeal Wisconsin’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples.

ACLU Files Lawsuit Seeking Freedom to Marry for Wisconsin Couples

The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Wisconsin and the law firm of Mayer Brown filed a federal lawsuit today on behalf of four same-sex couples who wish to marry in Wisconsin or are seeking recognition for their legal out-of-state marriages.

Gov. Walker, Don’t Use Free Speech as a Scapegoat

Governor signals he will sign bill protecting racist team names and mascots

Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Wisconsin Abortion Law

Law Would Have Closed Half of State's Abortion Clinics

In Wisconsin, Blacks Six Times More Likely than Whites to be Arrested for Marijuana Possession, Despite Equal Usage Rates

Wisconsin Ranks Fifth in Nation for Highest Racial Disparities, According to New Report by American Civil Liberties Union

New Procedure for Strip and Body-Cavity Searches Needs Public Input, Community Groups Say

Letter to Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission Urges Open Meetings

Wisconsin School Voucher System May Not Discriminate Against Students with Disabilities, U.S. Department of Justice Says

In a letter released this week, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) told Wisconsin that the state must ensure that students with disabilities who attend or seek to attend the state’s taxpayer funded voucher schools “do not encounter discrimination on the basis of their disabilities.”