In this impact report, you will get an inside look at our work to end Pueblo's unconstitutional detention practices, our upcoming legislative agenda, our efforts to defend Danielle SeeWalker, a Native American artist, from censorship, and more.
We'll keep fighting in the courts, at the capitol, and in our communities. Together, we can make Colorado a firewall for freedom.
Smart Justice
Victory Against Pueblo’s Unconstitutional Detention Practices
The ACLU of Colorado litigated to stop the city of Pueblo from unlawfully jailing people for hundreds of days without constitutionally required charging documents.
Privacy and Liberty
Defending Danielle SeeWalker Against Vail’s Retaliation
Vail selected Ms. SeeWalker to be its Summer 2024 Artist in Residence, which would have involved painting a mural in the town and participating in additional engagements. After months of planning, Vail abruptly cancelled Ms. SeeWalker’s residency...
Be the Change You Want to See
With the results of the 2024 election in full focus, we are clear-eyed about the gravity of this moment in our country’s history. While there are enormous challenges ahead of us, they are not our destiny. The ACLU of Colorado’s commitment to make Colorado a beacon for civil rights and civil liberties remains stronger than ever.
Protecting Civil Liberties: A Legislative Look Ahead to 2025
With federal threats to our civil rights and civil liberties on the horizon, it’s more important than ever that we fight to protect Coloradans. In the 2025 legislative session, ACLU of Colorado will build on our previous work done in the 2024 session.
A Groundbreaking Year for We Are the Vote
The 2024 election cycle was a landmark year for our We Are the Vote campaign, as we made unprecedented strides in mobilizing voters, protecting our personal freedoms, and pushing back against attacks on criminal legal reforms.
Systemic Equality
Pueblo Public Health Victory
We sued the city of Pueblo back in June on behalf of Colorado Health Network and the Southern Colorado Harm Reduction Association (SCHRA).
Meet Suzie Post, Our New Director of Philanthropy
We’re thrilled to welcome Suzie Post as the new Director of Philanthropy at the ACLU of Colorado! Suzie brings over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and advocacy.
Date
Monday, January 13, 2025 - 12:00pm
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As we are well into our three-year strategic framework, The Road Ahead continues to guide our efforts. In this impact report, you will get an inside look at our work in the courts, at the capitol, and in our communities. In this impact report you will read more about our continued work in our issue areas of Privacy and Liberty, where we worked to enhance biometric data privacy laws and uphold reproductive rights in Colorado and Systemic Equality, where we helped to strengthen renter’s rights and ensure equitable education for children across the state.
In this edition:
ACLU Wins $3.76 Million Victory in Case against Denver Police Officers
Ms. Johnson had been subjected to a Denver Police Department (DPD) SWAT team raid of her home without probable cause or proper investigation. The ACLU of Colorado filed the lawsuit in late 2022 under a new state law allowing civil enforcement for the violation of people’s rights under the Colorado Constitution.
Privacy and Liberty:
Enhancing Your Biometric Data Privacy
Biometric identifiers are a person’s most sensitive data. People’s fingerprints, DNA, facial mapping, the way we walk, and the way we think all make up who we are.
Protecting Reproductive Freedom
COLOR is proud to co-chair the Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom campaign. Abortion rights are essential to democracy. Guaranteeing equitable access to reproductive healthcare such as abortion, is necessary to ensure the well-being of our communities across our state — and our country.
Upholding Anti-Discrimination Laws
In February of this year, we filed a lawsuit against Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHCO), alleging that the hospital violated the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act when it stopped providing medically necessary surgeries to transgender patients over the age of 18.
Systemic Equality:
Strengthening Renters' Rights
Colorado has an affordable housing crisis — and the heaviest burden falls on renters. In 2023, eviction filings in Colorado were at their highest level since 2008.
Keeping Brown's Promise Alive
In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an historic decision in Brown v. Board of Education, ruling that placing children in separate public schools based on race was unconstitutional. This was a landmark case that would forever change education — or so we thought.
Smart Justice:
Holding the Aurora Public Defenders Office Accountable
Late last year, Aurora City Council issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a private law firm to replace the APDO. It did so despite objections from the ACLU of Colorado, which urged the city not to eliminate the public defender’s office on constitutional grounds, statutory grounds, and because of the financial hardship it would pose to taxpayers.
Date
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 - 1:30pm
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It has been one year since the launch of our three-year strategic framework, The Road Ahead. Since our launch, the ACLU of Colorado has worked diligently within our three core issue areas to make sure that Colorado can be the most just and equitable state in the country. In this newsletter, you will learn more about how we protected Coloradans’ right to freedom of expression after holding the Woodland Park School District accountable for violating the Constitutional rights of a resident whose speech district leadership didn’t agree with, how we are fighting to protect the First Amendment rights of activists who were unlawfully targeted by police in Colorado Springs in our Armendariz v. City of Colorado Springs case and how we put an end racial gerrymandering in El Paso County as part of our efforts for systemic equality in Colorado. This is only the beginning of our work on The Road Ahead.
In this edition:
One Year on the Road Ahead
As I look ahead to my third year serving as Executive Director of the ACLU of Colorado, I reflect on our many accomplishments during my tenure.
Privacy and Liberty:
Holding the Woodland Park School District Accountable
Colorado’s school boards’ decisions on policy, curriculum and budget have crucial impacts on students’ abilities to learn, grow, and flourish. With this power comes the ability to cause students harm.
Look Ahead: FIGHTING FOR OUR RIGHTS TO PRIVACY
Biometric data is our most personal — and vulnerable — data. We use it to open our phones, pay for our groceries, monitor our heart rates and learn more about our ancestry and familial connections. This technology has made our lives easier, but without proper regulation, this convenience comes at a severe cost.
Smart Justice:
Protecting Freedom of Speech
In August 2023, the ACLU of Colorado sued the CSPD and the FBI on behalf of the Chinook Center, a non-profit organization that serves as a hub for progressive activism in Colorado Springs, and Jacqueline “Jax” Armendariz Unzueta, an activist and Chinook Center volunteer.
Look Ahead: Efforts in Durango
Building on our Expanding the Table for Justice listening tour, we are diligently working to build connections with and increase our presence in Durango and La Plata County.
Systemic Equality:
Ending Racial Gerrymandering in El Paso County
Colorado’s reputation as having some of the strongest voting laws in the country is well-deserved. However, this reputation can obscure the barriers and threats that historically disenfranchised voters continue to face.
Look Ahead: PEAK Week
As the 2024 legislative session draws near, we are gearing up for our biggest community event of the year: PEAK Week.
Date
Thursday, November 30, 2023 - 9:00am
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