News & Commentary

Public education is the foundation of our democracy, and Oregon’s school administrators have the power to ensure that all students will learn about, protect, and promote their own civil liberties along with those of their peers.

Despite clear law to the contrary, PPB appears to be engaged in a pattern and practice of retaliatory arrest of local organizers.

American history, indeed world history, is full of stories of protest that opened the path to change.

Longer criminal sentences are not always the path to justice, safety, or solving challenging social problems.

ACLU of Oregon Statement of Solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux

Considering donating to the ACLU? Thank you! Stock donations are a great way to show your support.

No one should be turned away from a business just because of who they are. When Sweet Cakes co-owner Aaron Klein refused to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple, he broke Oregon anti-discrimination laws. Discrimination is degrading, and harms not only the individual or targeted group, but society as a whole. Our state has a long-standing tradition of protecting people from businesses that discriminate because Oregonians value fairness and equality.

In recent years, poverty and homelessness have deepened throughout the country, and Oregon has not been immune. According to HUD, between 2014 and 2015, the number of homeless Oregonians increased nine percent, the third highest increase nationwide. In that same time, Oregon experienced the largest growth of any state in its chronically homeless population: sixty percent. Due to a severe shortage of affordable housing and the high number of residents with no place to call home, Oregon cities including Eugene and Portland have declared a housing and homelessness “state of emergency”.