Press Releases

ACLU-D.C. lawyers and advocates are among the nation's leading experts on civil liberties and constitutional freedoms. They are regularly sought out by leading broadcast, print and online media to lend an essential voice to the conversation about some of the most important issues facing the nation and the District. For all press inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Sep 27, 2019

Federal Court Rules ACLU-DC Lawsuit on Behalf of Inauguration Day Protestors May Proceed

The core of the ACLU-DC's case will proceed, including at least one claim about each of the types of misconduct our clients experienced that day: mass arrest, excessive force, injurious handcuffing, denial of detainees’ basic needs, and an intrusive search.
Issue Areas: Freedom of Speech and Association
Court Cases: Horse v. District of Columbia - Challenging Mass Arrests, Excessive Force, and Unconstitutional Detention Conditions as to Anti-Inaguration Demonstrators
Jul 02, 2019

ACLU Statement on Metro Transit Police Officer’s Use of Taser on Bystander

The ACLU affiliates of the Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia call on the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority to open an independent audit of Metropolitan Transit Police Department policies and practices.
Issue Areas: Police Practices and Police Misconduct, Racial Justice
Jun 27, 2019

Judge Rules D.C. Police in Violation of NEAR Act Stop-and-Frisk Data Collection Requirements

Today the D.C. Superior Court ordered the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department to begin collecting stop-and-frisk data required by the NEAR Act. MPD has 28 days to comply.
Jun 13, 2019

In Response to Request for Race Data on Traffic Stops, D.C. Police Point to 31,000 Videos

In response to a Freedom of Information Act request filed by the ACLU-DC seeking race data on traffic stops, the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department has replied that the information can only be found by viewing 31,000 body-worn camera videos.
Issue Areas: Police Practices and Police Misconduct, Racial Justice
May 30, 2019

ACLU Endorses Statehood for the District of Columbia

The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of the District of Columbia today announced its official endorsement of H.R. 51 and S. 631, the Washington D.C. Admission Act, which would grant full voting representation, self-government, and equal civic participation for D.C.
Issue Areas: D.C. Statehood, Voting Rights
Apr 29, 2019

ACLU-DC Sues D.C. Police Officer for Warrantless Search of Grieving Mother’s Backyard

The incident has exacerbated Ms. Price's feelings of anxiety and fear of the police, making it hard for her to sleep or feel safe in her home.
Mar 07, 2019

ACLU-DC Calls on DOJ Inspector General to Investigate Inauguration Day Prosecutions Led by Trump Justice Department Nominee Jessie Liu

Today, the ACLU of the District of Columbia sent a letter to Michael Horowitz, Inspector General for the Department of Justice, calling for an investigation of the prosecutions of more than 200 political demonstrators by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Feb 06, 2019

ACLU-DC Statement Regarding Transfer of Gun Possession Cases from Superior to Federal Court

Mayor Bowser is delivering a slap in the face to D.C. residents, who have no representation in Congress, by ignoring their representatives’ criminal-justice policy choices in favor of a federal system that D.C. residents had no voice in crafting.
Jan 22, 2019

ACLU-DC Commends D.C. Council for Voting to Override Mayor Bowser’s Veto of Fare Evasion Decriminalization Bill

The bill passed the Council by a 10-2 vote on December 4, 2018, but Mayor Muriel Bowser vetoed the bill on January 16, 2019. Today’s vote overrode that veto.