Here's what you may have missed:

Hi ACLU Supporter – we hope you and your loved ones are taking good care.

The days may be blending together for some of us, but as we mark the end of another week during this strange and unsettling time, we want to send you an update on how we're protecting civil liberties – and making progress – in the age of COVID-19. Here's a recap of what you may have missed:

* Releasing vulnerable people from prisons, jails, and immigrant detention. That's what we need to do if we want to combat this pandemic. We're calling on police, governors, prosecutors, and sheriffs to immediately release the elderly and sick and drastically reduce the number of people who are arrested and detained pre-trial due to cash bail. And as a result of our lawsuits in eight states (and counting), 28 of our clients are now released from ICE custody. A judge in Pennsylvania said that failing to release our clients during this pandemic would lead to an "unconscionable and possibly barbaric result." We couldn't agree more, which is why we'll keep demanding that law enforcement do their job and keep us safe.
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* Protecting abortion rights. Even during a pandemic, pregnant people need the full spectrum of reproductive care – including abortion. But some states have been exploiting the COVID-19 crisis to strip access to abortion services. We and our state partners filed lawsuits against Alabama, Ohio, and Iowa to ensure that everyone can get the care they need. We swiftly won orders allowing clinics to continue providing abortion care in Alabama and Ohio, and reached an agreement in Iowa allowing physicians to make case-by-case decisions on performing abortions. But we expect fights in these states – and several others – are far from over.

* Safeguarding the right to vote. Coronavirus should not be a political issue, but with the election cycle ongoing, it will likely have a direct impact on voter turnout and ballot access. We're calling on governments at all levels to make it as easy as possible for all eligible voters to vote by mail in 2020, prepare for a likely surge in absentee ballots, and ensure that voting in person is safe for voters, poll workers, and election officials. We're going to court in Texas to make vote-by-mail an option for all eligible voters in the state. And we're keeping tabs on voting rights and election day changes – including primary delays – in states across the country. You can find those updates here.
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ACLU Supporter, supporters like you make all of this work – and a more just world – possible. We hope that gives you something to feel proud about, and will energize you for the long fight ahead.

Learn more about how we're making sure the response to COVID-19 protects everyone.
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Thanks for all you do.

– The ACLU Team

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