Discrimination
Marriage Equality
Meet five inspiring Rhode Island couples in this video produced by GLAD and MERI. Hear them talk about their love and commitment to each other and their families, and the need for marriage equality.
Racial Profiling
The RI ACLU, along with more than a dozen other local organizations, is working to bring attention to the critical problem of racial profiling in the state of Rhode Island.
Equality for all is one of the basic foundations of the United States, and the Rhode Island Affiliate strives to protect that right by fighting discriminationto ensure that all people are treated justly, no matter their race, sex, sexual orientation, economic status, disability, or any other protected status.
Court Cases
Current and recent discrimination lawsuits include:
- Spruill v. Alexander, a lawsuit defending the rights of the poor that that successfully contested the Department of Human Services’ significant delays in processing food stamp applications.
- Damiani v. City of East Providence, a federal lawsuit challenging the city’s “physical examination” requirement for the position of assistant harbormaster, imposed for the first time only after the plaintiff, with a known disability, applied for the position.
- Estrada v. R.I. State Police, a “racial profiling” lawsuit challenging the legality of the stop, hour-long detention, and transporting to immigration officials of fourteen Guatemalans; the suit argues that the stop and detention were based solely on the ethnicity of the driver and passengers.
Take a look at some of our other discrimination court cases.
Legislation
In the 2010 session the Affiliate is continuing to push for marriage equality and a comprehensive anti-racial profiling bill, and is working with Immigrants United to pass immigrant-friendly anti-discrimination bills dealing with everything from housing to workers’ rights to interpreter services.
In 2009 the RI ACLU fought for or against several bills dealing with discrimination. Learn more about this legislation, which included the R.I. Civil Rights Act, a bill that discriminated against women, three bills that would have expanded LGBT rights in the state, and bills dealing with racial profiling.
In 2008, the Affiliate lobbied against for civil rights, and against racial profiling and balancing the budget on the backs of the poor.
Discrimination in the News
April 20, 2010 - Report Shows State’s Food Stamp Processing Has Improved, But Delays Persist for the Neediest Families
February 8, 2010 - Appeals Court Upholds Dismissal Of "Racial Profiling" Lawsuit Against State Police
January 7, 2010 - Discrimination Complaint Against North Kingstown Shipbuilder Resolved
January 6, 2010 - ACLU Applauds General Assembly Override of Anti-Civil Liberties Vetoes
November 9, 2009 - Agency Finds Probable Cause to Believe That North Kingston Shipbuilder Has Violated Anti-Bias Laws
October 21, 2009 - ACLU Files Discrimination Complaint Against CVS
October 13, 2009 - Favorable Settlement Reached in Suit Over Food Stamp Delays
July 27, 2009 - R.I. ACLU Commemorates 30th Anniversary of Important Women's Rights Court Decision
July 6, 2009 -- State Sued Over Food Stamp Delays
June 30, 2009 -- ACLU Report to United Nations Documents Racial Profiling In Rhode Island and Across Country
May 11, 2009 -- Groups Announce Campaign Against Racial Profiling
February 26, 2009 -- Key Witness in Wyatt Case Will Not Be Deported Before Trial
February 19, 2009 -- RI ACLU Criticizes Central Falls’ Proposal to Sell Wyatt Detention Center
February 9, 2009 -- RI ACLU Files Lawsuit on Behalf of Family of Wyatt Center Detainee Who Died in Custody
January 7, 2009 -- RI ACLU Files Discrimination Complaint Against North Kingstown Shipbuilder
December 31, 2008 -- ACLU To Appeal Dismissal of "Racial Profiling" Lawsuit Against State Police
October 29. 2008 -- ACLU Sues East Providence for Discriminatory Treatment of Job Applicant Due to Disability
December 17, 2007 -- ACLU Files Civil Rights Complaint Against DHS For Lack of Adequate Interpreter Services, Violation of Consent Agreement
July 26, 2007-- Blacks and Hispanics Disproportionately Jailed in Rhode Island, National Report Indicates
July 16, 2007 -- Settlement Reached with General Treasurer on Suit Over Rules Denying Compensation to Certain Victims of Violent Crimes
January 8, 2007 -- ACLU Files "Racial Profiling" Lawsuit Against State Police for Illegal Detention of Guatemalans in I-95 Stop
January 4, 2007 -- ACLU Report Documents Contained Racial Profiling Problems in Rhode Island; Calls for Changes in Police Practices
December 27, 2006 -- General Treasurer Sued Over Rules Denying Compensation to Certain Victims of Violent Crimes
November 30, 2006 -- ACLU Files Open Records Suit Against State Police to Obtain "Racial Profiling" Videotape
July 27, 2006 -- Groups Denounce General Treasurer Rules Denying Compensation to Certain Victims of Violent Crimes
August 8, 2005 -- Statistics on Traffic Stop Racial Profiling Show Backsliding, ACLU Report Finds
May 23, 2005 -- ACLU Sues Over DMV Driver's License Procedures for Immigrants
Providence, RI 02903