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  • On November 21, 2016, 13 Aurora police officers responded to a simple noise complaint at Alberto Torres’s home. As happens all too often, Aurora police officers escalated this minor issue into a brutal affair. They beat Mr. Torres solely because he delayed exiting his garage to ask his wife to interpret for him. With that beating, the lives of Mr. Torres and every member of his family were changed and he has yet to recover. ACLU of Colorado fought to obtain justice for Mr. Torres, and Aurora has now paid him $285,000. But money is not justice, and the brutality of the Aurora Police Department against people of color has continued unabated.

    It doesn’t have to be this way.

    Imagine, if instead of 13 officers being dispatched to Mr. Torres’s home for a noise complaint, the City of Aurora sent a civilian-led response team to check on his welfare and ask that he and his friends lower their sound, resulting in a non-violent solution to a minor issue?

    ACLU Settles Case With Aurora After Police Brutalize and Unlawfully Arrest Alberto Torres

  • Hope is a discipline. It’s a commitment that together, we can create a more perfect union. We won’t rest until we fulfill the promise of equal rights for ALL people in the United States.

    Join us in our fight to fulfill this promise and move forward with hope by donating to the ACLU of Colorado. Your donation supports the ACLU’s strengths that make our work effective and collaborative.

    Donate now at https://action.aclu.org/give/support-aclu-colorado

  • Anthony Martinez is 84-years-old and suffering from renal failure, as well as other serious medical conditions including dementia. He is currently incarcerated in the Sterling Correctional Facility, site of one of Colorado’s largest COVID-19 outbreaks with almost 600 active COVID-19 cases. He and his family are understandably terrified that he will catch the virus and die.

    In the midst of this public health crisis, incarcerated people as vulnerable as Anthony, could and should be immediately released to safely live out their remaining years with family.

    Read more about Anthony Martinez and other at-risk incarcerated people. 

  • Ronald Johnson is pre-diabetic, suffers from asthma and high blood pressure, and regularly uses an inhaler to breathe. His age and respiratory ailments put him at risk of serious illness and death if he contracts COVID-19. With over hundreds of active cases in Colorado’s prisons, his family fears he will not make it out alive. His daughter, Amber, says, “In prison, he can’t protect himself and he can’t social distance. My deep fear is that my dad will die in prison. That is an awful, traumatic reality to consider. My chest is tight just thinking about how quickly it spreads and how vulnerable he is.”

    Governor Hickenlooper shortened his sentence following testimony from family, friends and correctional officers advocating for his early release. Yet, he is still eight years away from parole. While he remains in prison, COVID-19 continues to spread. Ronald’s three siblings, four children and four grandchildren are desperate for his release.

    Read more about Ronald Johnson and other at-risk incarcerated people.

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10.4.10

ACLU SUES EL PASO COUNTY JAIL OVER DEATH OF INMATE

ACLU Sues El Paso County Jail over Death of Inmate   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 10, 2001 The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Colorado (ACLU) announced today the filing of a wrongful death and civil rights lawsuit on behalf of the family of Andrew Spillane, a pre-trial detainee who died on May 10, 2000, in the El Paso County Jail, shortly after deputies pepper-sprayed him in the confined space of a special detention cell.   According to the ACLU and Amnesty International,.... | Read More

10.4.10

SUSPECTED VICTIMES OF CHILD ABUSE SHACKLED, JAILED, AND TREATED LIKE CRIMINALS, ACLU CHARGES IN FEDERAL LAWSUIT

Suspected Victims of Child Abuse Shackled, Jailed, and Treated like Criminals, ACLU Charges in Federal Lawsuit   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 8, 2001 In a lawsuit filed in federal court today, the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Colorado (ACLU) alleged that contractors providing services to the Colorado Division of Youth Corrections mistreated two young suspected victims of child abuse who were unjustly imprisoned last year for seven days, denied visits and the right to telephone.... | Read More

10.4.10

SERIES OF INMATE DEATHS IN EL PASO COUNTY JAIL PROMPT ACLU CALL FOR INVESTIGATION

Series of Inmate Deaths in El Paso County Jail Prompt ACLU Call for Investigation   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 5, 2001 In a letter to the El Paso Board of County Commissioners, the ACLU called today for an investigation to determine whether "systemic and ongoing deficiencies in the delivery of medical and mental health care" are responsible for a series of inmate deaths in the county jail in Colorado Springs.   The letter was prompted by reports of that inmate Brian.... | Read More

10.4.10

ACLU AWARDED GRANT FROM THE DENVER FOUNDATION

ACLU Awarded Grant from The Denver Foundation   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 10, 2001 American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Colorado (ACLU of Colorado) is pleased to announce a grant award of $10,000 from The Denver Foundation, through the Irene G. Rothgerber Trust of The Denver Foundation, for programs serving the six county metropolitan area.   This grant will support the entire range of litigation, education and advocacy programs of the ACLU of Colorado. ACLU of Colorado.... | Read More

10.4.10

ACLU AWARDED GRANT FROM GAY AND LESBIAN FUND FOR COLORADO

ACLU Awarded Grant from Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 10, 2001 American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Colorado (ACLU of Colorado) is pleased to announce a grant award of $5,000 from the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado for support of educational programs and ACLU Chapter work in El Paso County.   ACLU of Colorado is a statewide organization dedicated to the preservation of individual freedom and governmental restraint. The goal is to protect.... | Read More

10.4.10

ACLU AWARDED GRANT FROM GILL FOUNDATION

ACLU Awarded Grant from Gill Foundation   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 10, 2001 American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Colorado (ACLU of Colorado) is pleased to announce a grant award of $15,000 from the Gill Foundation for general operating support. This grant will support the entire range of litigation, education and advocacy work of the ACLU of Colorado.   ACLU of Colorado is a statewide organization dedicated to the preservation of individual freedom and governmental restraint..... | Read More