News & Commentary

In Arkansas, the ballot initiative process has long served as a vital tool for the people — a way to organize, speak out, and propose laws when elected officials fail to act. This form of direct democracy has given ordinary Arkansans a voice in shaping our state’s future.

Just 100 days into President Donald Trump’s second term, the ACLU has filed 53 cases against his administration. We sought emergency relief in 38 of these cases, winning at least some form of preliminary or temporary order in 27 cases. To our clients, these are not just numbers.

As the dust begins to settle on the 2025 Arkansas legislative session, we salute all people and organizations who called, wrote, testified and supported good proposals while opposing the bad.

The Alien Enemies Act of 1798 was used to justify World War II-era internment of noncitizens. Now Trump is attempting to abuse that authority to deport immigrants without due process.

As the 2025 legislative session barrels forward, Arkansans are witnessing a wave of bills that threaten to erode the rights and freedoms we all hold dear.

Across the country, right-wing groups are working to dismantle long-standing anti-discrimination protections and statutory mandates by targeting what they broadly refer to as diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). These attacks on DEIA are not new.

Public libraries are pillars of democracy, ensuring access to diverse perspectives and information.

For many people seeking safety, the journey to winning asylum in the U.S. is long. The ACLU goes behind the scenes of our new series, Letters to America, to reflect on what daily life looks like for individuals building a new home in the States.

Today, as on many other days, I told myself, “Be more Cecile.” Cecile is Cecile Richards, the marvel of a human best known as the president of Planned Parenthood.