Thinking Freely
Thinking Freely is a political podcast, from the ACLU of Maryland, informing people about what's happening politically in Maryland from the courts to the streets, and everywhere in between. You'll hear from ACLU staff, our clients, and community leaders about the issues facing our civil liberties and how you can get involved. Produced by Nehemiah Bester Learn more at: aclu-md.org
Tue, October 15, 2024
Leer libremente: Entre dos mundos
Escucha un cuento sincero del amor, la familia y el impacto de la inmigración. Este último episodio de “Leer libremente” sigue una historia que va de Baltimore a El Salvador y de regreso.. Sintoniza mientras Lorena Magdalena Diaz, miembro del personal de la ACLU de Maryland, nos lleva en un viaje a través del tiempo entre sus dos hogares y cómo esto ha impactado su enfoque de la vida, su trabajo crítico en inmigración y lo que significa tener una conexión que trasciende las fronteras. Lea la versión escrita: aclu-md.org/es/news/en-medio-de-dos-mundos Escuche la versión en ingles: https://on.soundcloud.com/rVW9HSH6znP64X2j9
Fri, October 11, 2024
Reading Freely: Between Two Worlds
In a heartfelt telling of love, family and the impact of immigration, this latest episode of Reading Freely follows a story from Baltimore to El Salvador, and back again. Tune in as ACLU of Maryland staffer, Lorena Magdalena Diaz, takes us on journey through time between her two homes, and how that's impacted her approach to life, critical immigration work, and what it means to have connection beyond borders. Read the written version: aclu-md.org/en/news/between-two-worlds Listen to the Spanish version: https://on.soundcloud.com/NCtBa4u8EGfvVrRW7
Mon, August 05, 2024
Reading Freely: Waving My Disability Pride Flag All Around
If you are disabled and are reading this: We see you. We affirm you. We love you. The world would be boring as heck without people like you in it. This episode of Reading Freely is all about Disability Pride Month and celebrating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) anniversary, signed into law in 1990. Listen as ACLU of Maryland staffer, Nicole McCann, takes us through why we must center disability accessibility and inclusion in everything we do. And provides great resources for anyone looking to strengthen their understanding of disability accessibility. Check out the written version: aclu-md.org/en/news/waving-my-disability-pride-flag-all-around For more information: sinsinvalid.org/blog/10-principles-of-disability-justice mdod.maryland.gov/mdtap/Pages/social.aspx
Thu, July 25, 2024
Leer libremente: Reflexionemos sobre el mes del orgullo LGBTQ+
En junio, miembros del personal de la ACLU de Maryland asistieron a eventos del Orgullo en todo el estado, desde el condado de Charles, Annapolis y Baltimore. El Orgullo, sin importar dónde esté, sigue creciendo cada año. Los miembros de nuestro personal salieron de estos eventos con diferentes pensamientos del Orgullo LGBTQ+. En este episodio, escucha las cosas únicas e inspiradoras que los miembros del personal dijeron y recuerda que el Orgullo se trata de aceptación, reconocimiento, pertenencia y respeto por la vida de cada persona. Así se valora su humanidad. Lea la versión escrita aquí: https://www.aclu-md.org/es/news/lets-reflect-lgbtq-pride
Thu, July 25, 2024
Reading Freely: Let's Reflect on LGBTQ+ Pride
In June, ACLU of Maryland staff members attended Pride events throughout the state – from Charles County, Annapolis and Baltimore. Pride, no matter where it is, continues to grow each year. Our staff members came out of these events with different reflections about LGBTQ+ Pride. In this episode, hear some of the unique and inspiring quotes from some of them and remember that Pride is about acceptance, acknowledgement, belonging and respecting people’s lives so that their humanity is valued. Read the written version here: aclu-md.org/en/news/lets-reflect-lgbtq-pride
Wed, June 26, 2024
Meet Our New Board President, Corey Stottlemyer
As a father, advocate, economist, and strategist, Corey Stottlemyer uses his skills and experience of more than 20 years to advocate for racial justice and equity at the federal, state, and local levels. As the new Board President of the ACLU of Marylanders Board of Directors, Corey feels that while we as an organization have achieved significant advances for the rights of people, there is still work to be done to uplift the humanity of all Marylanders who we show up for every day. Listen directly to Corey’s mission for the organization and learn some interesting facts about him and his work in this latest episode of Thinking Freely. And join us in welcoming our new board president. A full transcript of this episode is available at: Check out this teaser video: And learn more from this blog on Corey:
Mon, June 17, 2024
Reading Freely: A Riot vs. A Rebellion - A Telling of The Riot Report Documentary
Can we ever learn from history or are we forever doomed to repeat it? On this episode, listen to producer, Nehemiah Bester, as he shares his experience working on the documentary film, The Riot Report on PBS, while comparing and contrasting his personal accounts of rebellion, most notably during the Racial Reckoning of 2020, as a student, activist, and journalist. What's a riot? And what's a rebellion? The Riot Report itself, was the written conclusion of President Lyndon B. Johnson's Kerner Commission of 1967 on what was needed to remedy the massively tense relations among Black people and police that spawned countless riots and uprisings of the 1960s. It's decades later, but what lessons from this investigation can we learn from to prevent future turmoil? And when can we answer President Johnson's century old question? “What happened? Why did it happen? What can be done to prevent it from happening again, and again?” Read the written version of this episode at: aclu-md.org/en/news/riot-vs-rebellion Watch the film: pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/riot-report/
Mon, March 04, 2024
Leer libremente: Un Día de Lobby Memorable
Este año, el Día de los Presidentes, celebramos un Día de Acción centrado en los derechos de los niños en Annapolis para aprobar algunas buenas decisiones para que nuestros funcionarios electos rindan cuentas de sus palabras. Alrededor de 200 activistas, estudiantes y líderes comunitarios marcharon hacia la Asamblea General para hacer oír sus voces durante el Día de Acción de 2024: Justicia para los niños y los residentes de Maryland encarcelados. En este episodio, escuchará cómo estas voces colectivas, parte de un increíble conjunto de defensores, se unieron para hablar directamente con sus funcionarios electos, hacer preguntas importantes y hacer demandas en apoyo de los derechos de los niños y los residentes de Maryland encarcelados. Lea el blog escrito de este episodio en: aclu-md.org/es/news/un-dia-de-lobby-memorable Obtenga más información en: aclu-md.org
Mon, March 04, 2024
Reading Freely: A Lobby Day To Remember
This year on President’s Day, we held a children’s rights focused Day of Action in Annapolis to pass some good bills and hold our elected officials accountable to their words. Around 200 activists, students, and community leaders marched into the General Assembly to make their voices heard during the 2024 Day of Action: Justice for Children and Incarcerated Marylanders. On this episode, you’ll hear how these collective voices – part of an amazing set of advocates – joined together to talk directly with their elected officials, ask the important questions and make demands in support of the rights of children and incarcerated Marylanders. Read the written blog of this episode at: aclu-md.org/en/news/lobby-day-remember Learn more at: aclu-md.org
Fri, February 02, 2024
"No One Was Protecting Us" Ransom Watkins Of The Exonerated Harlem Park 3
Life in prison was the verdict for teenagers Ransom Watkins, Andrew Stewart and Alfred Chestnut in 1983 when they were wrongfully intimidated and interrogated by police and sentenced for a crime they did not commit. The three were eventually exonerated, but were effectively robbed of 36 years of life, in addition to the ever-present trauma that comes with incarceration. A devastating reminder of the issues within our legal justice system, and why children's rights must be protected. Defending the rights of children shouldn't be optional, and yet every day in Maryland, children entangled in the legal justice system were questioned without a parent, guardian, or attorney present. Which is why in 2022, the ACLU of Maryland and our partners successfully passed the Child Interrogation Protection Act which requires an attorney be consulted before a child is interrogated by law enforcement. On this episode you'll hear from Ransom Watkins of the Exonerated Harlem Park Three about his life, legacy, and how the man in him still struggles with the brutality the child in him has endured. A full transcript of this episode is available at: aclu-md.org/en/publications/no-one-was-protecting-us-ransom-watkins-exonerated-harlem-park-3 Learn more about defending children's rights at: aclu-md.org/en/issues/civil-rights/childrens-rights
Fri, August 18, 2023
ACLU Presenta Una Queja Federal Contra El Alguacil Del Condado De Frederick
El acuerdo 287(g) con ICE en el condado de Frederick debe finalizar. En julio, la ACLU de Maryland se unió a la ACLU nacional para presentar una queja administrativa federal pidiendo al Departamento de Seguridad Nacional de los EE. UU. que investigue al alguacil del condado de Frederick, Charles Jenkins, para poner fin al peligroso acuerdo que promueve el odio contra los inmigrantes y la deportación. En este episodio de Thinking Freely, escuchará a Sergio España, el Director de Compromiso y Movilización de la ACLU de Maryland en una entrevista exclusiva con María Cáceres, la Directora de Asuntos Comunitarios de El Zol 107.9 para discutir el problema y los detalles de la denuncia. This episode is in Spanish. Echa un vistazo a El Zol en: www.audacy.com/elzolradio Una transcripción completa de este episodio está disponible en: https://www.aclu-md.org/es/publications/pensar-libremente-aclu-presenta-una-queja-federal-contra-el-alguacil-del-condado-de
Tue, August 01, 2023
Reading Freely: 5 Years Of Making Good Trouble
Half a decade ago, Dana Vickers Shelley walked into the ACLU of Maryland as the new executive director ready to make "good trouble" in the name of working to guarantee the promise of Maryland’s constitution for all Marylanders. 5 years have gone by, but the mission remains the same. Listen as Dana reflects on her 5th year anniversary as executive director and how the ACLU of Maryland remains committed to empowering Marylanders to exercise their rights so that the law values and uplifts their humanity. This episode was adapted from the keynote speech Dana delivered to the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland’s Standing for Justice Conference in May. Read the written blog of this episode at: aclu-md.org/en/news/5-years-making-good-trouble Learn more at: aclu-md.org/en/publications/reading-freely-5-years-making-good-trouble And follow our guest on social: @DVStrategies
Wed, June 28, 2023
Know Your Rights: LGBTQ+ Students Have The Right To Be Themselves In School
This June, the Human Rights Campaign declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people for the first time in the organization’s 40-year history. And unfortunately, students are not immune to the dangerous anti-queer assaults, legislatively or physically. Because of the seriousness of these attacks, we've published a Know Your Rights guide on LGBTQ+ students' rights on gender, dress codes, self-expression and more. On this episode you'll hear from Carlos Childs, Regional Community Organizer at the ACLU of Maryland on our updated LGBTQ+ Know Your Rights materials so students are fully aware of their right to be themselves in school. A full transcript of this episode is available at: aclu-md.org/en/publications/lgbtq-students-have-right-be-themselves-maryland-public-schools#Transcript Learn more and download your guide here: aclu-md.org/en/know-your-rights/lgbtq-students-rights Follow our guest @carloschildsmd
Tue, June 13, 2023
Can Marijuana & Racial Justice Coexist?
Starting on July 1st, 2023, marijuana will officially become legalized for recreational use in Maryland for adults 21 and up. This also includes a new law that bans police stops and searches based on the alleged smell of marijuana. But is that enough for Maryland to become a model for marijuana and racial justice? On this episode you'll hear from Michele Hall, who is an assistant public defender at the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, Lawrence Grandpre, the director of research for Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, and Yanet Amanuel, the director of public policy at the ACLU of Maryland. Together we examine the cross roads of marijuana and racial justice and see if marijuana reparations are possible for those communities most harmed by the "War on Drugs" - a war whose ramifications are still felt today. A full transcript of this episode is available at: www.aclu-md.org/en/publications/can-marijuana-and-racial-justice-coexist Learn more at: www.aclu-md.org/marijuana And follow our guests on social: twitter.com/MicheleDHall twitter.com/Ne0Nubian twitter.com/TheeAdvocate_
Fri, May 26, 2023
Stop The Eviction: A Modern Day Indian Removal
What's being called a modern day Indian Removal, The Wild Turkey Clan of the Cedarville Band of Piscataway Indians in Maryland are being forced off their land by the Charles County government - the very land that belongs to the Piscataway Conoy People and that the Band has taken care of for decades. On this episode we speak with Tribal Chairwoman Natalie Standingontherock Proctor on the harmful impact of this removal and how people can get involved to end this eviction. To learn more and take action visit www.piscatawayindians.com/ and action.aclu.org/send-message/md-cedarville-band-piscataway-indians-2023
Thu, March 30, 2023
Leer libremente: El camino hacia la legalización de marihuana: El cronograma hasta ahora
Finalmente, el uso legal de la marihuana en Maryland se está convirtiendo en una realidad, pero eso no significa que sea oficialmente legal todavía. Aquí hay una cronología que le dice todo lo que necesita saber sobre esta próxima fase de las leyes sobre la marihuana. Lea la cronología completa aquí: https://www.aclu-md.org/es/news/el-camino-hacia-la-legalizacion-de-marihuana-el-cronograma-hasta-ahora
Wed, January 04, 2023
Reading Freely: The Road To Marijuana Legalization Timeline So Far
Finally, legal use marijuana in Maryland is becoming a reality - but that doesn't mean that it's officially legal just yet. Here's a timeline breaking down everything you need to know around this next phase of marijuana laws. Read the full timeline here: https://www.aclu-md.org/en/news/road-marijuana-legalization-timeline-so-far
Wed, November 16, 2022
Reading Freely: Pride Is More Than A Month - It's A Mentality
Pride is more than a place holder on a calendar - it's protest. Over 50 years after the Stonewall Uprising, and six months away from the 50th anniversary of the now overruled Roe v. Wade, we can feel the tides changing, pulling us back into the past. The very first sounds of LGBTQ+ freedom and liberation were hundreds of queer folx screaming and chanting "out of the closet and into the streets!" Decades later, we have returned to the streets desperate and determined not to return to a life of persecution and secrecy. The very core of queerness is radical revolution – existing proudly regardless of others' disdain or the status quo. Be sure to check out the written version here: https://www.aclu-md.org/en/news/pride-more-month-its-mentality
Mon, November 14, 2022
Reading Freely: Know The Facts About The Racist, Anti-Immigrant 287(G) Program
Know The Facts. Immigrants' rights are more important now than ever. And one pressing issue on the minds of many in Maryland is that the 287(g) program continues to plague us. The program deputizes local and state law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws. A couple years back, the ACLU of Maryland shared data in Seven Truths Surrounding 287(g) Programs showing just how racist immigration enforcement is in Maryland. Now, we have the latest data showing the same depressing results. Be sure to check out the written version here: https://www.aclu-md.org/en/news/know-facts-about-racist-anti-immigrant-287g-program
Mon, October 03, 2022
Reading Freely: Enfranchising Maryland During An Era Of Disenfranchisement
Our vote is a fundamental freedom and our democracy is threatened without real access to everyone. The ACLU of Maryland has long worked to stop voter disenfranchisement in all its forms. In this audio blog, learn how tactics of ballot exclusion have evolved over the years, and how the path to overcoming this ailment and expanding fundamental suffrage is no modern idea. Check out the written version at https://www.aclu-md.org/en/news/enfranchising-maryland-during-era-disenfranchisement
Fri, August 27, 2021
Back to School: A Race Conscious Call to Action
Many Maryland children are heading back to school. After a year and a half of virtual learning, most students will go back into their school buildings. But what experience will they step back into? On this episode we speak with key ACLU experts, Justin Nalley, public policy analyst, Frank Patinella, senior education advocate, and Tierney Peprah, staff attorney, about the work we will be doing to ensure an education system that values and uplifts students’ humanity.
Fri, April 30, 2021
The Derek Chauvin Verdict, Anton Black, and Protecting Black Lives
On April 20, 2021, the jury in the Derek Chauvin trial issued a guilty verdict on all three counts for the murder of George Floyd. However, one verdict is not justice – it’s simply accountability. Over 5,000 people were killed by police in the U.S. since 2015, including George Floyd and Anton Black, who were killed by police in eerily, terrifyingly similar ways. We talked to LaToya Holley, the sister of Anton Black, Dayvon Love, Director of Public Policy for Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle and Sonia Kumar, Senior Staff Attorney with the ACLU of Maryland about the Derrick Chauvin verdict, the work being done to get justice for Anton Black and what we must do to reform policing the create a system that values and protects Black lives. Watch: Assessing the Claim or "Movement" to Defund the Police with Lawrence Grandpre, Director of Research for Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle: https://youtu.be/BuG_yqnfQoU Read: Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle’s "When Baltimore Awakes" publication: https://bit.ly/3dMGDYk
Thu, April 01, 2021
Life, Liberty, and Humanity: Women in the immigrant community fighting for a better Frederick
Immigrants in Frederick County have been fighting for their rights for years. We’ve seen some great victories this year. Immigrants have won in the courts and in local policy that helps the community, despite the odds. In this episode, we talked to Sara Movahed, ACLU of Maryland board member and founding partner at Movahed & Fisher Law, LLC., - www.movahedfisher.com and Brian Whittaker of Nixon Peabody LLP - nixonpeabody.com who represented Sara Medrano and the RISE Coalition in their successful legal challenge to racial profiling by local police deputized to act as ICE agents. We also hear the words of Sara Medrano and Flor Garay of the RISE Coalition of Western Maryland about being able to fully participate in society regardless of citizenship or legal status without discrimination.
Sat, February 20, 2021
Coverup, Police Killing and the Medical Examiner: Anton Black should still be alive today
Police officers on Maryland's Eastern Shore killed Anton Black, a 19-year-old Black teenager, on the afternoon of September 15, 2018. Over two years later, the family and the Coalition for Justice for Anton Black are still fighting for justice for Anton Black. To talk more about this we will speak with Antone Black, the father of Anton Black, Richard Potter, an educator and President of the Talbot County Branch of the NAACP, and Deborah Jeon, legal director for the ACLU of Maryland, about the impact they hope their legal challenge will have as part of the work to reimagine policing in Maryland. To take action to demand police reform visit: https://www.aclu-md.org/reimaginepolicing
Fri, January 22, 2021
Free the Vote: Let people who are incarcerated access the ballot
The right to vote and participate in our democracy is currently denied to over 18,000 citizens who are incarcerated in Maryland. Dating back to the racist Jim Crow era, state felony disfranchisement laws were created to prevent Americans entangled in the legal justice system from voting. After the Civil War, there was a concerted effort to incarcerate thousands of Black people who were newly freed, in order to weaken their political power. In Free the Vote, a new documentary by the ACLU of Maryland, we talked with people who were formerly incarcerated, politicians, historians, and advocates who share their experiences and dreams of a Maryland and country where the right to vote is restored for every citizen who is currently incarcerated. In this episode listen to Farajii Muhammed, host of “For the Culture” on WEAA 88.9 FM; Qiana Johnson, executive director of Life After Release; Dr. Pippa Holloway, author of “Living In Infamy: Felon Disfranchisement and the History of American Citizenship”; Chris Wilson, serial social entrepreneur, storyteller, artist, social justice advocate, and author of "The Master Plan"; and me, Amber Taylor, the producer of Free the Vote and digital communications strategist at ACLU of Maryland. Together, we explain why we need to ensure every citizen who is incarcerated has access to the vote and the ballot behind bars. Learn More: https://www.freethevotemovie.com/
Tue, December 29, 2020
Welcome 2021: Still work to do (Bonus Episode)
After the 2020 election, a national awaking on systemic racism, COVID-19, and a politically divided nation, it is important to reflect on where we have been and where we could go. As 2021 draws near, Maryland and our country have much to do to empower people to exercise their rights so that the law values and uplifts their humanity. On Thinking Freely this month, we were joined by Dana Vickers Shelley, the Executive Director of the ACLU of Maryland, and Marion Gray Hopkins, President of the Coalition of Concerned Mothers, mother of Gary Hopkins, who was killed by police in Prince George’s County and an ACLU of Maryland board member, about some of our visions for Maryland and how you can get involved.
Thu, December 17, 2020
Reimaging policing and more in Maryland's 2021 legislative session
Another Maryland Legislative session is upon us, with the General Assembly set to start on January 13, 2021. Due to COVID-19, this will be a virtual session and we will work to make sure people’s voices are heard by legislators as they make decisions during this challenging time. That’s why it is important to stay informed on what’s happening next session. In 2021, the ACLU of Maryland will be working along with our partners on 5 priority areas as we reimage policing: 1) Repeal the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights, 2) Restore control of the Baltimore City Police Department back to Baltimore City residents, 3) Make investigations into police misconduct transparent by reforming the Maryland Public Information Act, 4) Limit the use of force by law enforcement, and 5) Remove law enforcement from our children's schools. ACLU of Maryland will also advocate for education rights like the Blueprint for Maryland’s future Act, fight to enact a statewide trust act, to defend the rights, of immigrants in our communities, and to take the Politics Out of Parole. Yanet Amanuel, Public Policy Advocate, Joe Spielberger, our Public Policy Council, and Justin Nalley, our Education Policy Analyst join Thinking Freely this month to talk about this work and how you can get involved. Take action: https://bit.ly/3lAorTe
Sat, October 24, 2020
Police Free Schools in Maryland
School Resource Officers, more commonly known as SROs, are really school police. There are thousands of them in schools across Maryland, even though many of these same schools don’t have access to guidance counselors, therapists,or nurses to support students’ growth. The evidence is clear that school resource officers are associated with higher increases in arrests of students, and there is an unacceptable, disproportionate rate of Black and Latinx students who are arrested, including children with disabilities. We must work to reimagine an education system that keeps students safe and respects their rights. Maryland needs to invest in students' education, not in their incarceration. To learn more visit: https://www.aclu-md.org/ReimaginePolicing If you have questions or comments about the show please send us an email at aclu@aclu-md.org
Fri, September 25, 2020
Constitution Day 2020 - Let People Vote
Listen to a special episode of the Thinking Freely podcast, as we talk with experts on making voting safe, easy, and accessible for voters during the 2020 election this year's constitution day event. Learn more about your voting rights: https://www.aclu-md.org/voting
Thu, September 17, 2020
Still Rising: How the Latinx community is exercising their power in Frederick
As we celebrate Latinx Heritage Month, we must continue to uplift the humanity of Latinx people. We need to protect immigrants from victimization and criminalization. No one should be, but too often, they are profiled for their skin color or denied the respect and dignity that every human being deserves. No one should be "othered" for merely existing. But the Latinx community is resilient, and groups like the RISE Coalition of Western Maryland are finding ways to support their community and exercise their rights. They show how we can make a better and safer community for our Latinx neighbors and Maryland as a whole. Note: Since recording this podcast, the R.I.S.E Collation of Western Maryland hit their community fundraising goal. You can continue to support them and their efforts by visiting their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RISECoalitionMD
Tue, August 25, 2020
Your Voice, Your Vote: Let’s Make Sure Everyone Can Vote in the 2020 Election
The fight for voting rights remains as critical as ever, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. We talked to leading voting rights experts in Maryland: Joanne Antoine, Executive Director of Common Cause, Reverend Kobi Little, President of the Baltimore Branch of the NAACP, and Dana Vickers Shelley, Executive Director of the ACLU of Maryland. We talked about our voting rights, the challenges of voting during the COVID-19 pandemic, and what you need to know to exercise your vote by Tuesday, November 3.
Tue, July 21, 2020
Stop Spy Planes Over Baltimore: End Mass Surveillance
With police spy planes, everywhere Baltimore goes, the government will always know. Spy planes carry sophisticated cameras developed for the military, mounted on airplanes, that can see the entire city, and that track the movement of every person or vehicle moving outside. Baltimore has a terrible history of racial bias and a lack of accountability for abuses by police. It should be the last place to use a program of mass surveillance. In this episode, we talk with Dayvon Love, the Public Policy Director for Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, a grassroots think tank that advances the public policy interests of Black people in Baltimore, and David Rocah, Senior Staff Attorney for the ACLU of Maryland, to talk about the spy planes program, the legal case, our privacy rights, government surveillance, and the impact the spy planes are having on residents of Baltimore, especially Black residents. Let’s stop the Baltimore Police spy plane program.
Thu, June 25, 2020
No More Police Killings – Reimaging Policing Now
Too many people have lost their lives at the hands of police. But perhaps the saddest thing is that many of these deaths were unnecessary and could have been avoided. Today, we will be joined by Tracy Shand, sister to Leonard Shand, and Shamāiah Manriquez, sister to Emanuel Oates, to share their experiences about how the killing of their brothers by police could have been and should have been, prevented. We will also talk to Jay Jimenez, our Legal Program Associate, about some of the trends we are seeing in police killing and important recommendations for the police that would reduce these tragic deaths.
Tue, May 05, 2020
Know Your Rights: What to Do in Police Encounters
Knowing your rights is vital. Especially during police interactions. You cannot assume that officers will behave in a way that protects your safety or that they will respect your rights even after you assert them. That’s why the ACLU of Maryland developed our free Know Your Rights program so that you can know how to exercise your rights and what to do when your rights are violated. This month, we talked to two experienced Know Your Rights Trainers, Kimi Washington and Gus Griffin, along with Amy Cruice the Director of ACLU of Maryland’s Know Your Rights Program, about why knowing your rights is so important and how you can request a KYR training.
Thu, April 02, 2020
Uplifting our Humanity and Rights During the COVID-19 Crisis
During these difficult times, the ACLU of Maryland is here to defend and protect our civil rights and civil liberties. We are providing guidance to our elected officials, so they can craft a COVID-19 response that is compassionate and protects the populations most vulnerable to harm, including immigrants and those caught in the legal justice system – as well as all Maryland voters. As always, we will provide people with action items you can do to support this vital work.
Thu, March 05, 2020
Women Exiting Incarceration Demand Better
For Women’s History Month, we are highlighting the issues facing women exiting the criminal legal system and why we need a dedicated pre-release facility for women. The number of women and girls in the criminal legal system has grown substantially over the past several decades. The over-incarceration of women devastates families, because 75% of women who are incarcerated are the primary or sole caretakers of children. Currently, the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services operates nine dedicated lower-security facilities for men who are preparing to return to their communities from prison. But there are none for women. The re-entry services available to women are inadequate as they are, but the situation is even more egregious in light of the services available to men. We were joined by Qiana Johnson, the Executive Director of Life After Release, to discuss why women need a dedicated pre-release facility in Maryland and how to support incarcerated women.
Wed, February 05, 2020
Race Discrimination on the Prince George's Police Force
We want officers to speak up against racist police practices and sexual harassment to help change the culture of policing. But when officers of color speak up against these unconstitutional practices they often experience discrimination and retaliation. For this Black History Month, we sat down with an African American officer, Lieutenant Sonya Zollicoffer, second vice president of the United Black Police Officers Association and with a Latino officer Retired Captain Joe Perez, president of the Hispanic National Law Enforcement Association. We talk about why they and over 10 other officers of color, decided to file a lawsuit against Prince George’s County Police Department challenging the department’s pattern and practice of unconstitutional conduct. And we ask them about their message to other Black and brown officers and women officers fighting against discrimination in their police departments.
Thu, January 02, 2020
Maryland 2020 - Power to the People in the General Assembly
Another Maryland Legislative session is upon us, with the General Assembly set to start on January 8, 2020. This session, the ACLU of Maryland will be working on six priority areas: 1) Race and wealth equity for Maryland’s school children, 2) the Trust Act to defend the rights of immigrants in our communities, 3) equality in support services for women exiting the criminal legal system, 4) transparency in policing, 5) the right to vote for Marylanders behind bars, and 6) due process for children entangled in the criminal so-called “justice” system. Toni Holness, our public policy Director, Joe Spielberger, our Public Policy Council, and Justin Nalley, our Education Policy Analyst join Thinking Freely this month to talk about our work and how you can get involved.
Fri, November 22, 2019
The Time is Now to Center Race & Wealth Equity in Maryland Education
Maryland students have a right to a high-quality public education guaranteed by the state constitution. But for far too many students, that right is undermined by generations of underfunding. This has most deeply impacted students from families with low income and Black and Brown children. Janna Parker, a former educator and a public education advocate, and Kimberly Humphrey, Esq., Legislative Counsel for the ACLU of Maryland, talk about how you can help to address racial and wealth inequities in the Kirwan Commission, the group developing Maryland’s new statewide education funding formula. This podcast was recorded on Piscataway land.
Sun, October 27, 2019
Racism, Algorithms and the Fight for Redemption
For years, people sentenced as children to life in prison with the possibility of parole, and their families, have tried to get Maryland to live up to the promise of second chances that a parole-eligible sentence is intended to provide. However, many barriers exist that stop this from happening. Many criminal justice stakeholders have turned to technology to help make parole decisions through “risk assessment tools.” Also labeled artificial intelligence, these tools have been touted as carrying with them the potential to save a broken system. However, these tools may exacerbate the same problems they are supposed to help solve. They rely on flawed criminal justice data that is not controlled for the institutional vestiges of slavery, de jure and de facto segregation, racial discrimination, and biased policing. In this episode we talk to Earl Young, who was sentenced to life as a young man; James Foulds, Assistant professor in the Department of Information Systems at UMBC; and Sonia Kumar, Senior Staff Attorney at the ACLU of Maryland. What are the barriers to people getting a real opportunity to earn a second chance? What can you do to support meaningful reforms to parole systems, like the deeply flawed system in Maryland?
Thu, September 26, 2019
Taking Back Our Voting Rights from Jim Crow
Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy and the fundamental right upon which all our civil liberties rest. But the right to vote and participate in our democracy is currently denied to thousands of people in Maryland, those who who are incarcerated. Dating back to the racist Jim Crow era state felony disfranchisement laws were created to prevent Americans with felonies from voting. After the Civil War, there was a concerted effort to incarcerate thousands of newly freed slaves and these laws weakened the political power of Black people. Although the laws have changed so that people who are formerly incarcerated and are not currently serving a felony conviction can register and vote in elections, there is still confusion about these laws, which has also resulted in countless other Marylanders from voting. In this episode listen to Lupé Hawkins of Just Us and Yanet Amanuel, Public Policy Advocate of the ACLU of Maryland, discuss some of the threats to our voting rights, explain why we need to improve ballot access for people behind bars, and talk about what you can do to get involved in turning the idea of universal suffrage into reality. This podcast was recorded on Piscataway land.
Fri, August 23, 2019
Let Baltimore Speak: The Fight Against Gag Orders
The First Amendment was meant to serve as the backbone of our democracy, allowing people who are critical of the government the right to speak. Historically, white supremacists have co-opted the First Amendment to advance hate and incite violence. At the same time, we have seen People of Color’s First Amendment rights violated when they speak out against oppression and racism. The First Amendment is a vital tool that can be used to advance racial justice. That’s why survivors of police brutality and community members in Baltimore are fighting for the right to speak up against police abuse. However, the Baltimore City government requires survivors to sign “gag orders” that are meant to silence survivors of police abuse in order to resolve their cases. In this episode listen to Tawanda Jones, Activist, and Leader of “West Wednesdays Coalition” and Deborah Jeon, Legal Director of ACLU of Maryland, discuss the impacts of silencing survivors of police abuse. We will also speak about the effort to re-imagine a First Amendment where everyone’s speech is protected. This podcast was recorded on Piscataway land.
Mon, July 15, 2019
RISE UP : How Black and Brown immigrants are gaining power in Frederick
Our immigrant communities need to be supported. Instead, their lives and rights have increasingly been attacked, especially under the Trump Administration. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has prioritized building more 287(g) partnerships, where local law enforcement officers are deputized as federal immigration agents. Local police only have to go through a month of training to be fully participating officers and there’s little accountability for rights violations. Across the country, a growing number of counties are participating in this program, including 3 in Maryland. These dangerous programs undermine public safety by causing many immigrants to fear law enforcement. In this episode, we hear from Flor Garay of the RISE Coalition of Western Maryland and Sergio España of the ACLU of Maryland to talk about how the 287(g) program has impacted Maryland residents – and what we can do about it. NOTE: The phrase “America is a country of immigrants” is often a well-intended phrase that has often unintended biases. The phrase ignores two major parts of American history. First, it ignores that this nation was created on land violently stolen from Native Americans/Indigenous people. These peoples were here first and we need to as a nation better understand that history. Second, it ignores that millions of Black people are descended from people who were stolen from Africa and sold into slavery. They are not immigrants. Words matter and understanding the history of these phrases help us create a more perfect union. This podcast was recorded on Piscataway land.
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