Alicia Yass

Alicia Yass

Pronouns: she/her

Policy Advocacy Director

Policy Advocacy

Bio

Alicia Yass, serves as the Policy Advocacy Director. Before coming to the ACLU-DC, Alicia was Chief Counsel for the Democrats on the House of Representatives, Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. There, she led work investigating COVID origins, NIH grant processes, and NY State’s COVID response in nursing homes. Prior to that, she was Deputy Executive Director for the DC Office of Police Complaints, providing oversight and guidance to DC’s MPD and HAPD. She was previously with the American Constitution Society (ACS), leading the lawyer chapters. Alicia started her legal career as a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, and was co-assigned as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, where she prosecuted child pornography and child sex trafficking crimes. Alicia received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from George Washington University, and her law degree from New York University School of Law. In her free time Alicia teaches barre and puts on shows with the St. Mark’s Players.

Featured Work

Podcast
A More Perfect District Podcast cover
  • Voting Rights

Your Vote is Your Power

In this episode, we break down everything you need to know about voting in Washington, D.C. Whether you plan to vote by mail, use a drop box, or cast your ballot in person, we’ll help you make a plan to vote with confidence. Host Amber Taylor, Strategic Communications Director, is joined by Alicia Yass, Policy Advocacy Director, to discuss responses from candidates who completed the ACLU of D.C.’s primary election questionnaire and what voters should know heading into the election. We also speak with Brandon Bush-Thompson of the League of Women Voters of DC about ranked-choice voting, how it works in D.C., and practical guidance to help voters cast their ballots successfully.
News & Commentary
A collage-style graphic featuring blue-toned images and text on a beige background. The composition includes a person playing a drum, a large drum in the center, and graffiti-style artwork with the words “GO GO CITY.” Another image of a person holding a child's hand and another image of a Black man speaking to community members in an urban farm. Red scribble-like lines accent the design, and layered rectangular shapes create a dynamic, artistic layout.
  • Criminal Justice Reform

Three Reasons D.C. Youth Need More Support, Not More Punishment

The safest communities are the ones with the most resources, not the most police.