Friend –

As 2023 wraps up, we hope you are staying warm and well. At ACLU-D.C., we're ending the year strong and are gearing up for 2024.

Here are highlights of our recent work and some ways that you can get involved.

Breaking Through Isolation: The Urgent Case for the ERASE Solitary Act in D.C. Jails

Solitary confinement is a stark reality for many people incarcerated in D.C. Legislation being considered by the D.C. Council – the ERASE Solitary Confinement Act – would require that for at least 8 hours a day, most incarcerated people are not confined to their cells and are not isolated from others. In November, ACLU-D.C. and our partners published this white paper — with personal narratives, empirical data, and polling results — that shows the dire need to end solitary confinement in D.C. jails.

Lawsuit Challenges D.C. Transit Authority for Violating the First Amendment

On December 12, along with our partners, we filed a lawsuit that challenges the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) advertising restrictions as violations of the First Amendment. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of plaintiff WallBuilders, whose advertisements about its religious and educational mission were rejected by WMATA. This lawsuit argues that parts of the agency's ad policies violate the First Amendment by discriminating against ads and advertisers deemed controversial by WMATA officials and by discriminating against religious viewpoints. Read more about the lawsuit.

Freedom of Speech and Beyond: The First Amendment and D.C.

What exactly does the First Amendment mean, and how does it apply to us in the District? On November 15, Executive Director Monica Hopkins sat down with Staff Attorney Michael Perloff and Senior Counsel Art Spitzer to talk about our First Amendment rights, how the ACLU of D.C. has protected them in the past, and the current challenges we're facing today. Check out the conversation.

Volunteer with us!

Thank you to all our volunteers for helping us build a more just and free D.C. From tabling and marching, to testifying and court-watching, there are so many ways to get involved. Check out and join our volunteer opportunities.

Save the Date: Advancing Justice in D.C.

Tuesday, February 13, 2024, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Zoom
Hear from ACLU-D.C. about how we're building a more just and free D.C. through our Criminal Justice Reform work. Be on the lookout for details soon!

Thank you so much for your support. We could not do this vital work without the support of caring residents and the tenacity of our partners and allies who work alongside us to build a just and free D.C.

Thanks for sticking with us,

ACLU of the District of Columbia