2026 Bill of Rights Gala

As we face continued attacks on our constitution and our democracy, one thing remains clear: We have the power to fight back against the abuse of power. Because “we the people” are “we the powerful.”

We fight back in the courts and in our Massachusetts communities. Together, we're mobilizing to build power using one of the greatest tools of our democracy: our voices.

Come celebrate the ACLU’s hard-fought wins, honor the everyday advocates defending our freedoms, and reaffirm that the power of the people is greater than the people in power.

Please email gala@aclum.org if you have any questions.

Deborah Archer

Deborah Archer is the President of the ACLU, the first person of color to serve in that role in the organization’s history, and a nationally recognized expert on civil liberties, civil rights, and racial justice. She is also the Margaret B. Hoppin Professor of Law and Faculty Director of the Community Equity Initiative at New York University School of Law. Deborah is an award-winning teacher and legal scholar whose articles have appeared in leading law reviews and national publications, and she has offered commentary for national and international media. Prior to fulltime teaching, Deborah worked as an attorney with the ACLU and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., where she litigated in the areas of voting rights, employment discrimination, educational equity, and school desegregation.

The Wampanoag Nation Singers & Dancers

The Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers are a group of musicians, educators, and artisans from the tribal communities of Mashpee on Cape Cod, Aquinnah on Martha's Vineyard, and Herring Pond in Bourne. Their performances of eastern social songs and dances have both educated and entertained audiences of all ages in museums, schools, and various multi-cultural events.

Amanda Shea

Amanda Shea is a three-time Boston Music Award-winning Spoken Word Artist. Shea is an artist, performer, educator, artivist, filmmaker, producer, host, and curator. She founded Free Verse, an open mic series and cultural platform committed to amplifying radical imagination through art, truth-telling, and collective liberation. Her work can be found in the Museum of Fine Arts, WBZ-4, The Boston Globe, TEDX, and much more.

The LUCE Defense Hotline

The LUCE Defense Hotline is a MA-based, multilingual rapid response system that helps immigrant communities track and verify Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity daily. It provides real-time alerts, legal support, and resources against detention.

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