Friend –

Advancing racial justice has been a key thread in the ACLU's efforts to defend civil liberties since our founding.

But in 2021, our organization took the critical measure to amplify this work by launching our Systemic Equality agenda, a concerted, long-term effort to advance racial justice and end the deep-seated racial inequalities that are woven into the fabric of American society.

An essential part of this agenda included making an unprecedented investment in The Southern Collective, a partnership of our 12 southern state affiliates who are leading the fight to protect the rights of millions of people where some of the most regressive policies take hold.

Our Southern Collective made major gains this year; however, we know that in 2022, the battles for civil liberties will be fiercer, as those against equality heighten their rhetoric and their dangerous policies in an attempt to rev up their voters in a crucial election year.

That's why I'm urging you to help keep our teams in the South well-resourced and ready to fight by giving to the ACLU's 2022 Action Fund.

With a generous year-end gift of $35, $50, or more by December 31, you will be making an investment in the transformational work of The Southern Collective and other essential ACLU initiatives in the fight for voting rights, reproductive freedom, and more in 2022.

It's imperative that we succeed in beating back attacks on peoples' rights in this region because what happens in the South influences progress not only here, but all across our country:

• If we break the chains of Jim Crow-era policing and jailing policies in states like Alabama, we can make progress on transforming public safety away from law enforcement and ending mass incarceration.
• If we push for fair housing practices and increased access to financial services in Mississippi, we can make progress on addressing the racial wealth gap and improving the economic futures of Black and Brown families.
• And if we challenge voter suppression laws and gerrymandered voting maps in Georgia, we can make progress on ensuring that voting is easily accessible for everyone and that all communities are represented equally at each level of government.

But none of this will happen without the generosity of ACLU supporters like you, ACLU Supporter.

So please, donate as generously as you can to our 2022 Action Fund today. By doing so, you'll play a crucial role in supporting The Southern Collective and ACLU teams across the country as they fight to make America more equal and more just for all in the months ahead.

Sincerely,

JaTaune Bosby
Pronouns: She, her, hers
Executive Director, ACLU of Alabama