In a letter to the Chairmain of the D.C. Council, Executive Director Monica Hopkins urges the Council to schedule and hold a mark-up on the Street Vending Discrimination Amendment Act, creating a system that supports street vendors and recognizes their value to D.C.
The ACLU-DC supports these two bills, and further encourages the decriminalization of unlicensed street vending and reducing police interactions with street vendors—ensuring that vendors can feel safe while pursuing their livelihoods without threats to their safety and wellbeing.
ACLU-D.C. is committed to ending the practice of solitary confinement, which demands confronting inequities in the criminal justice system and the racial bias driving them.
With a lack of D.C. statehood and the upcoming midterm elections, time is of the essence to protect abortion access in the District before a new Congress is seated.
Debt-based license suspensions throw drivers into a cycle of poverty. B24-237 is an example of policy that reflects the economic reality of District residents—many of whom are continuing to survive a pandemic and recession, and generations of wealth inequality.
"District leaders must confront their biases, break the cycle, and use this critical moment to prioritize investment in prevention, community-based violence interruption and trauma services, school-based mental health services, restorative justice, and other effective public safety strategies."