Category Archives: News

April 27, 2021 DENVER – In a filing this morning in federal district court, ACLU lawyers sued the Chief Judge in Mesa County, Brian Flynn, as well as Mesa County Sheriff Matt Lewis and Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle. The complaint alleges that the three defendants are responsible for unnecessarily and unjustifiably causing the ACLU’s client, Michelle Reynolds, to spend fifteen harrowing days locked up in jail with no opportunity to post bond and obtain pretrial release. “People who.... | Read More

You might know Michael Marshall as the mentally ill, homeless man killed by sheriff’s deputies in the Denver jail, but to me he was Uncle Mike. Son of John Marshall and Hattie Lee Black-Marshall, Uncle Mike was a loving man, willing to do what he could for his family and other people experiencing homelessness. He had a contagious laugh and presence that brought joy at holidays and Sunday dinners. Because he lived with schizophrenia and the stigma that goes along with mental illness and poverty,.... | Read More

April 20, 2021 MINNEAPOLIS — A jury has found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all charges in the murder of George Floyd.  The following statement can be attributed to Jason Williamson, deputy director of the ACLU’s Criminal Law Reform Project:   “George Floyd will never make his way home to play games with his daughter, Gianna. He’ll never go on walks through the park with his beloved fiancée Courteney or play basketball with his brother, Philonise. While.... | Read More

We are accepting nominations for Bill of Rights Event honorees until May 14, 2021. Please help us recognize the Colorado leaders protecting and extending our civil rights and civil liberties by nominating deserving individuals, groups, firms, or organizations. Information about each of the awards and past honorees can be found both at the survey link and the nomination form below. To submit your nomination, complete this online form. If you would like to submit your nomination via email,.... | Read More

I am writing to ask you to support SB21-062 because had this bill been law, it could have saved my son’s life. Our son, Jerid Jason Thistle, was a loving son and father. He struggled with an addiction to methamphetamines that led to mental health issues. We had a plan for Jerid to move home to Washington. It was his dream to open a home mechanic shop on our property. He was a terrific mechanic. You can ask anyone who works at the Alamosa Sheriff’s office. They all had their vehicles fixed.... | Read More

My brother, Marvin Booker, was 56 years old when he was killed. Marvin was a peaceful street preacher who also struggled with mental illness and drug use. None of this changed the fact that he was a kind and loving man. He was no risk to anyone. What haunts me when I think about his life, about all the years he worked to do good in this world, are the handful of minutes it took to end it.  A little over ten years ago, the Denver police arrested Marvin on a low-level drug charge. While being.... | Read More

March 23, 2021 DENVER – The following statement can be attributed to Deborah Richardson, ACLU of Colorado Executive Director. “We are heartbroken over the loss of ten lives during the horrific attack in Boulder yesterday. Our deepest sympathies go out to those whose loved ones lost their lives, were injured, or were otherwise impacted by this tragedy. “While much remains unknown about this shooting, we call on elected officials not to politicize this tragedy for political gain. We.... | Read More

Learn more and take action here. “I have never as a parent been tested like I have with this situation with J.L.”  As the mother of four children with four different personalities and learning styles Heidi Laursen was used to wearing different hats to advocate for her kids. She had one daughter who was in gifted programs, who all the teachers loved, one with a variety of strengths and talents, who rarely required additional support, and another daughter who had dyslexia and required.... | Read More

Learn more and take action here. “I’m worried about him ending up like Elijah McClain.” Shandie Harris fears for her son J.J.’s life every day. As a six foot tall, 230 pound young Black man, teachers and law enforcement often see 16-year-old J.J. as a threat. J.J. has autism and learns at a 5th grade level. He has an IEP but that hasn’t been enough to shield him from bias and a system determined to misunderstand his needs. “He doesn’t look like he has a disability,” Shandie.... | Read More

Learn more and take action here. “One of A.V.’s struggles is he doesn’t advocate for himself very well. Will he ever feel comfortable advocating for himself and his friends again? Will he ever feel safe talking to a police officer again?” Michelle Hanson always wanted her kids to go to their neighborhood schools until the day her 11-year-old son A.V. ended up handcuffed in the back of a police car for hours, sobbing, injured, and traumatized.  Like most young people, A.V. is.... | Read More