ACLU of New Jersey

Trans students deserve to feel safe and supported in school. By rescinding Policy 5756, Edison Township is risking the wellbeing of LGBTQ students and creating an unwelcoming environment, we said in a letter with Garden State Equality to Edison’s Board of Education. We urge Edison’s Board of Education to reinstate this policy immediately and remember their responsibility to protect all members of their school community. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dstF_Beq

It’s never too early to make your voting plan. Check our 2024 Election Guide for information on registering to vote, voting by mail, in-person during early voting, voting on Election Day, displaying political signs, and more! This election, we hope that racial and social justice, civil rights, and civil liberties are at the forefront of your mind as you cast your ballot. It’s time to vote like your rights depend on it. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e_uXqHfS

New Jerseyans need proven solutions to strengthen public safety, instead of harsher penalties for youth. “A4299/S3006 is yet another example of tough-on-crime policies that are misguided and harmful. It will only serve to further fuel mass incarceration by adversely affecting people who deserve systemic support, not punishment,” ACLU-NJ Deputy Policy Director Jim Sullivan told TAPinto Edison. We urge legislators to reject this bill and embrace data-driven solutions that will build a safer, more just future. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eta8Eycu

School should be a safe space for ALL students, regardless of their identity. With Garden State Equality, we've sent a letter to the Plumsted and Edison school districts urging them to readopt Policy 5756, which helps to safeguard the well-being of LGBTQ students. Revoking Policy 5756 signals to LGBTQ students and families that schools may not be a safe and welcoming place for all, leaves school administrators and staff without clear guidance, and puts LGBTQ students at increased risk of bullying, harassment, and serious mental health struggles. All students have a right to feel safe, supported, protected, and welcome when they walk into school. We’re calling on all school districts across the state to prioritize protecting LGBTQ students.

Police wield immense authority to detain, search, arrest, and use deadly force, but too often officers are not disciplined for misconduct, which disproportionately harms Black and brown communities. The New Jersey’s Office of the Attorney General’s latest reports and recommendations underscore the need for the immediate and widespread implementation of reforms in police departments. “The Attorney General’s leadership in proposing additional mechanisms for accountability is a crucial step toward realizing the comprehensive change needed for New Jersey to build a fairer, more just future,” Amol Sinha said in the New Jersey Monitor. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e5HuMCgD

Solitary confinement is torture. The Isolated Confinement Restriction Act (ICRA) was intended to protect incarcerated people from the extreme physical and psychological trauma brought by solitary confinement, but it can only be successful if it is properly implemented. “As the first-person testimony in the NJPJW report illustrates, even if the DOC provided all it claimed to improve living conditions for incarcerated people, that standard would still be insufficient under the law,” ACLU-NJ Deputy Policy Director Jim Sullivan said during the launch event. To ensure that ICRA lives up to its promise, New Jersey must strengthen oversight and we urge the Legislature to examine compliance with the law. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eiuGkAJf

Voting is the cornerstone of democracy and the fundamental right upon which all our civil liberties rest. Lowering the voting age for school board elections empowers young people to engage with the decisions that shape their education and helps build a lifelong habit of civic participation. We joined Governor Murphy at Hoboken High School as he spoke with AP U.S. Government and Politics students about S3240/A4369, a bill that would allow 16 and 17-year-olds across the state to vote in school board elections. Lowering the voting age for school board elections empowers young people to engage with the decisions that shape their education and helps build a lifelong habit of civic participation. Thank you Governor Murphy for providing this strong leadership in advancing voting rights in New Jersey. We’re urging all lawmakers to support S3240/A4369.

Los trabajadores agrícolas merecen igualdad, dignidad, seguridad y salud. “Esta es una situación injusta e inconcebible cuando se piensa que estos son los trabajadores que están poniendo los alimentos en nuestras mesas. Y también viola nuestra constitución estatal,” dijo abogada senior de la ACLU-NJ Farrin Anello. Leer más sobre nuestra demanda en nombre de CATA Migrantes: https://lnkd.in/ej5U6WDZ

Join New Jersey Prison Justice Watch and ACLU-NJ Deputy Policy Director Jim Sullivan on Tuesday, October 1 for the launch of a new report, “Isolated Voices: The State of Solitary in NJ.” Despite the passing of the Isolated Confinement Restriction Act, incarcerated New Jerseyans are still being subjected to the trauma of prolonged isolation. This virtual event will feature live testimonies from individuals who have experienced isolation, words of support from advocates, and recommendations for humane and effective policy changes. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eejhFA3a