News & Commentary

Seventy-seven years ago today, Oregon’s Minoru Yasui defied the government's curfew on Japanese Americans in a brave act of civil disobedience at the start of World War II.

Did you hear the story about the do-gooder tech company that is pushing new state “privacy” bills across the nation?The pitch by that company, Hu-manity.co — which is so effective its Oregon bill was introduced with more than 40 co-sponsors — is that patients’ health information is being sold for big money without their consent and without providing them any compensation. The solution these bills propose is to prohibit such information from being sold without patients’ permission and without giving them a cut of the profits when their information is sold. Sounds like a big win for privacy and consumers.

The energy in the Oregon Convention Center, with 700 freedom defenders and civil rights advocates in one room, was electric last Friday. Thank you to everybody who made this year's Liberty Dinner so special!

Debt-based driver’s license suspensions are a poverty penalty that punish people solely because they are poor. It is time to end this harmful practice in Oregon.

After more than a month of threats, a government shutdown, and bipartisan action by Congress, President Trump has finally declared a national emergency to spend billions of taxpayer dollars on his border wall obsession. In response, the ACLU will file a lawsuit early next week challenging this blatantly illegal executive action.

Today, we announced a settlement with Douglas County in our federal lawsuit that challenged the inhumane conditions in the county jail. Terri Carlisle, our client, was denied pain medication and subjected to foul conditions and cruel treatment in the jail.

We support current legislation to ensure access to feminine hygiene products for incarcerated people in Oregon jails and prison. This is an issue of gender equity and basic human dignity.

Everything the ACLU of Oregon accomplished in 2018 was because our members and supporters refused to accept attacks on our democracy and values.

We strongly urge the the Portland Public School Board to reject or postpone signing this contract and make time for feedback from students and impacted communities.