Equal Protection and Discrimination

A cornerstone of our society, equal protection of the law is guaranteed by the Fifth and 14th Amendments and reinforced by hundreds of local, state and federal civil rights laws. The ACLU fights to ensure that no one is subjected to unconstitutional discrimination.

Equal Protection and Discrimination

A cornerstone of our society, equal protection of the law is guaranteed by the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments and reinforced by hundreds of local, state and federal civil rights laws. The ACLU fights to ensure that no one is subjected to unconstitutional discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, age, disability, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, or citizenship status.

The Latest

Resource
A diverse group of young people march and hold protest signs reading “Education shapes our future,” “Stand for change,” “Every voice matters,” and “Empower the youth.” One person speaks through a megaphone. The image includes an artistic collage featuring the Statue of Liberty, the Washington, D.C. flag, and bold green geometric shapes against a dark blue background.

Know Your Rights At School In D.C.

You don’t lose your rights just because you enter a school!
News & Commentary
A pesron holding up a sign reading "A World Without Trans People Has Never Existed And Never Will" at a demonstration.

Trump's Executive Orders Promoting Sex Discrimination, Explained

A new executive order lays out a plan to erase transgender people’s existence under the law
Resource
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Ward 7 Candidates Questionnaire

Press Release
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Bread for the City Responds as D.C. Police Union Moves to Intervene in Lawsuit Challenging Unequal Response to Mental Health Emergencies

Issue Areas: Criminal Justice Reform, Equal Protection and Discrimination
Legislation
Apr 29, 2026

FY27 MPD Budget

Among other things, ACLU-D.C. urges the Council to put pressure on MPD to implement all recommendations from the Office of the D.C. Auditor (Auditor) and Office of Police Complaints (OPC); pass legislation prohibiting all District government entities, including all entities designated as law enforcement, from collaborating with any federal agency for the purpose of carrying out immigration enforcement; and taking a more compassionate approach to concerns about youth misbehavior, by investing in proven crime prevention strategies, rather than punitive ones, like the youth curfew.
Position: Oversight Testimony
Legislation
Apr 30, 2026

Public Roundtable Re: Youth-Centered Alternatives to Teen Takeovers: Recreation, Opportunity, and Accountability

Young people in D.C. deserve policies that consider their wellbeing, that truly address the challenges they and their communities are facing, and that de-center policing and carceral-centric strategies. D.C.’s Black youth, in particular, deserve to not only be heard, but be protected like anybody else; not further criminalized in the place they call home.
Position: No Position
Legislation
Jan 25, 2018

Bill 22-189, the “Drug-Related Nuisance Abatement Act of 2017"

This proposed amendment will only exacerbate the negative impact to communities of DC’s existing Nuisance Abatement Law, which is problematic in both its scope and enforcement.
Position: Problematic