UPDATED AUGUST 2025

The work to protect our rights and liberties is a marathon, not a sprint. The ACLU’s tireless work challenging unconstitutional orders and actions over the past eight months is a crucial part of our collective, ongoing work to protect our democracy.

Here in Rhode Island, we continue to be a part of multiple cases to protect immigrants’ rights and free speech from actions of the new Presidential administration. Read more about what we’ve been doing in the sections below.

Turn your uncertainty, fear, or anger into action — scroll to the bottom of the page to learn more about how you can get involved!

The National ACLU and state affiliates across the country continue to work to build firewalls for freedom: barriers to ensure our state and local officials do not assist anti-democratic forces in attacking our civil liberties and civil rights, and preventative measures to safeguard our rights.

Here in Rhode Island, where the political landscape affords us some opportunities, we’re taking advantage of our strengths to moderate threats to our rights at the executive, legislative, and local levels.

Now that the 20225 Legislative Session is over, we have a better sense of how.

"Addressing Threats" are a selection of priority bills and actions we're taking to address threats to our rights.

"Existing protections" are some of our existing strengths for the years ahead in Rhode Island.

Immigrants' Rights

What we're doing to protect the rights and liberties of immigrants living in Rhode Island.

Firewall for Freedom: Immigrants' Rights

First Amendment — Free Speech

Read about some of the threats to our First Amendment rights, and what we're doing to protect this constitutional right.

Firewall for Freedom: First Amendment + Free Speech Rights

Reproductive Freedom and LGBTQ+ Rights

We have many existing protections for reproductive freedom and LGBTQ+ rights, but there's still work to be done.

Firewall for Freedom: Reproductive Freedom and LGBTQ+ Rights

Join Us in this Work

We couldn’t do this without your support and community

Firewall for Freedom: Join Us