American Civil Liberties Union Foundation Of Florida Inc

TO DEFEND THE CIVIL LIBERTIES OF THE RESIDENTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA

CRIMINAL JUSTICE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN FLORIDA IS BUILT ON STRUCTURAL AND INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND HAS A DEVASTATING, DISPARATE IMPACT ON BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE. THE ACLU OF FLORIDA'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM CAMPAIGN AIMS TO SIGNIFICANTLY REFORM FLORIDA'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO REDUCE INCARCERATION AND RACIAL DISPARITIES, END THE PRACTICE OF SUSPENDING DRIVER'S LICENSES FOR NON-DRIVING OFFENSES, INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF REHABILITATION CREDIT CURRENTLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE CAN EARN TO REDUCE THEIR SENTENCE, AND TO END THE USE OF UNAFFORDABLE BAIL PRACTICES IMPACTING PEOPLE DETAINED IN FLORIDA JAILS , THROUGH LITIGATION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION INITIATIVES.

OTHER LITIGATION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION ON IMPORTANT CIVIL LIBERTIES AND CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES THAT ARE CONFRONTING FLORIDIANS BUT FALL OUTSIDE OUR PRIMARY CAMPAIGNS SUCH AS THE FOLLOWING: FIRST AMENDMENT OUR DEMOCRACY IS UNDER ATTACK IN FLORIDA AND ACROSS THE STATE. CENSORSHIP IS BEING USED BY THOSE IN POWER TO DENY AND DISTORT HISTORY; HIDE THE LAWS AND POLICIES THAT CONTINUE TO BOLSTER SYSTEMIC INEQUALITY; SILENCE EXPERT GUIDANCE; CONTROL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ACTION; AND THREATEN OUR FUNDAMENTAL LIBERTIES. THROUGH LITIGATION, RESEARCH, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, THE ACLU OF FLORIDA IS WORKING TO FIGHT ALL FORMS OF CENSORSHIP, SECURE FREE SPEECH FOR ALL FLORIDIANS, AND DEFEND OUR DEMOCRACY. REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS DESPITE THE FACT THAT TWO-THIRDS OF FLORIDIANS SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO ABORTION AND VOTERS HAVE CONSISTENTLY CAST THEIR BALLOTS TO PROTECT THAT RIGHT, FLORIDA POLITICIANS HAVE PASSED A DANGEROUS 6 WEEK BAN THIS YEAR. IT STRIPS FLORIDIANS OF THEIR RIGHT TO PRIVACY AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, OFFERS LITTLE TO NO EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE OR INCEST, AND CRIMINALIZES DOCTORS WHO OFFER ABORTION CARE TO PATIENTS AFTER THAT POINT. THIS LAW HAS DEVASTATING EFFECTS DUE TO THE MYRIAD OF BARRIERS PEOPLE MUST NAVIGATE TO GET AN ABORTION. THROUGH LITIGATION, RESEARCH, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION AND STORYTELLING, WE ARE FIGHTING TO PROTECT FLORIDIANS' RIGHT TO PRIVACY AND LIMIT GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE IN THESE IMPORTANT AND PERSONAL MEDICAL DECISIONS TO ENSURE EVERY FLORIDIAN HAS THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHEN AND IF TO HAVE A CHILD. LGBTQ+ RIGHTS THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY IN FLORIDA-WHO HAS LONG STRUGGLED FOR BASIC RECOGNITION OF THEIR RIGHTS, DIGNITY, AND PRIVACY-IS UNDER INCREASED ATTACK. LGBTQ+ PEOPLE IN FLORIDA ARE BEING PUNISHED BY POLICIES THAT ESSENTIALLY BAN CLASSROOM ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THEIR EXISTENCE, PREVENT TRANSGENDER PEOPLE FROM USING THE APPROPRIATE RESTROOM OR RECEIVING LIFE- SAVING GENDER AFFIRMING CARE, SERIOUSLY RESTRICT PROPER PRONOUN USE, AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR TEACHERS TO BE SUPPORTIVE WHEN WE KNOW THAT A SINGLE SUPPORTIVE TEACHER CAN SAVE A QUEER STUDENT'S LIFE. THROUGH LITIGATION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, WE ARE FIGHTING THE DANGEROUS AND DISCRIMINATORY LAWS IN FLORIDA TO KEEP TRANS AND OTHER LGBTQ+ PEOPLE SAFE.

IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS IMMIGRATION POLICY IN FLORIDA CURRENTLY INSTILLS FEAR IN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, HARMS INDIVIDUALS, SEPARATES FAMILIES, AND IS WILDLY DISCRIMINATORY. FLORIDA IS ALSO HOME TO SEVERAL IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTERS, AND THE PRACTICES IN THESE FACILITIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR UNTOLD SUFFERING, HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATORS, AND DEATHS. THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION AND LITIGATION EFFORTS, THE ACLU OF FLORIDA'S IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS CAMPAIGN AIMS TO BRING AN END TO UNCONSTITUTIONAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES, END MASS IMMIGRATION DETENTION, ENSURE DUE PROCESS, WHILE CREATING SAFER COMMUNITIES FOR IMMIGRANT FLORIDIANS.

VOTING RIGHTS VOTING IS THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT UPON WHICH ALL OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES REST. FLORIDA CONTINUES TO SUPPRESS VOTING RIGHTS AND HEIGHTEN BARRIERS TO REGISTRATION WHICH SEVERELY LIMITS ACCESS TO VOTING. THE ACLU OF FLORIDA'S VOTING RIGHTS CAMPAIGN AIMS TO SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND VOTING RIGHTS AND PARTICIPATION AMONG ALL ELIGIBLE FLORIDIANS. THIS EFFORT IS PURSUED THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS AND LITIGATION. AT ANY GIVEN TIME, THE DEPARTMENT IS INVOLVED IN DOZENS OF INVESTIGATIONS, RESEARCH ASSIGNMENTS, AND LEGAL CASES.