Friend –

I hope this message finds you and your families safe and healthy during this unprecedented time. We wanted to drop you a quick line on what the ACLU-DC has been doing to protect and defend the rights of D.C. residents during the coronavirus pandemic and extend some invitations to join us for conversations and information.

• We litigated, in partnership with various co-counsel, three separate cases to protect vulnerable D.C. residents housed in St. Elizabeths hospital, the D.C. Jail, or the federal halfway house Hope Village. Each case resulted in significant positive results for our clients, either through court orders or government actions taken in response to our litigation. We will continue to closely monitor the implementation of the court orders we won and advocate for further relief if needed.
• In collaboration with our local coalition partners, we've been urging District agencies to safeguard access for all to the June 2 primary via absentee voting, ensure public school students have access to technology and Wi-Fi to continue their studies, and reduce the population inside the D.C. Jail and halfway houses to avoid further spread of COVID-19.
• We're hosting our second live virtual candidate forum on criminal justice reform in the District. The next one is on Wednesday, May 6, 6 to 8 p.m. for candidates for D.C. Council in Wards 7 and 8. RSVP today.
• Save the date for a virtual town hall about the ACLU-DC's COVID-19 work: Wednesday, June 3, 12 p.m.

More details on each update can be found on our full COVID-19 resource page.

Your support made it possible for us to do this work and spring into action. We are incredibly thankful.

How You Can Help

• Help share our advocacy efforts on social media. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
• Share our rights guides: Know Your Rights: Stop and Frisk.
• Sign up for our mailing list to receive alerts about the work we're doing on COVID-19 and other issues.
• Sign up to volunteer to learn about more opportunities to get involved.

I have never been prouder of my incredible team here at the ACLU-DC – many of whom, like you, are trying to survive this pandemic, care for children or family members, and get some work done from home. As residents of the District, we are resilient, and we will get through this by supporting each other. The ACLU of the District of Columbia will keep working for, and alongside, all of you.

Thank you for standing with us.

Monica Hopkins
Executive Director, ACLU of the District of Columbia