Press Releases

The American Civil Liberties Union has media staff available to handle inquiries from journalists on issues affecting civil liberties, including questions on legislative matters that touch on civil liberties and constitutional freedoms and inquiries related to ACLU lawsuits. Reporters with questions about ACLU work, please contact media@aclum.org.

Jan 27, 2022

Massachusetts House passes the VOTES Act

Passage of the VOTES Act in the Massachusetts House represents important progress, and we are grateful that state lawmakers adopted reforms—from widespread mail-in voting to improved access for eligible incarcerated voters—that will address barriers to the ballot and expand the hard-won right...
Issue Areas: Voting Rights
Jan 20, 2022

Following Defeat of Federal Voting Bill in U.S. Senate, Election Modernization Coalition urges Massachusetts Legislature to pass VOTES Act

The Massachusetts Election Modernization Coalition is deeply disappointed that the U.S. Senate cannot find a way to pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act to protect access to the ballot box across the country.
Issue Areas: Voting Rights
Jan 06, 2022

ACLU statement on Boston Police Department commissioner search

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu today announced a Boston Police commissioner search committee.
Issue Areas: Criminal Law Reform
Jan 04, 2022

ACLU statement on Qualified Immunity Commission Report

We are very glad that the commission clearly named the out-of-step ‘threats, intimidation or coercion’ language as a problem that needs to be fixed before any other progress can be made.
Issue Areas: Criminal Law Reform
Dec 29, 2021

Federal appeals court rules detained immigrants are entitled to fair hearings

The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit confirmed yesterday that the government must bear the burden of proof in immigration bail hearings. The decision affirms a key holding in a landmark class action filed in Boston federal court in 2019 by the ACLU of Massachusetts...
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights
Dec 15, 2021

Statement of the ACLU of Massachusetts on Wu administration’s updated Mass. and Cass plan

The ACLU of Massachusetts welcomes Mayor Wu’s proposed public health-oriented approach to address the intersecting crises people are experiencing in the Mass. and Cass area.
Issue Areas: Criminal Law Reform
Dec 14, 2021

Worcester passes municipal ban on face surveillance technology

The Worcester City Council today voted to pass an ordinance that bans municipal government agencies from acquiring or using face recognition technology. Worcester is the eighth municipality in Massachusetts to ban government use of face surveillance, joining Boston, Brookline, Cambridge...
Issue Areas: Privacy and Surveillance
Dec 13, 2021

ACLU secures right to display political lawn signs in Amherst condominium

Second Hampshire County condominium adopts free speech rule following ACLU action...
Issue Areas: Free Speech and Expression
Dec 10, 2021

Statement of the ACLU of Massachusetts on Texas abortion cases

Every day SB 8 remains in effect, it harms Texans by denying them their constitutionally protected right to abortion care.
Issue Areas: Reproductive Freedom