News & Commentary

Sep 19, 2025

Court Rules in Favor of Artists, Free Speech, in Case Against the National Endowment for the Arts

Court strikes down unconstitutional grant restrictions on various legal grounds

Yellow and blue graphic with an image of actors rehearsing on a stage.
Sep 18, 2025

ACLU of RI Statement on the Need to Protect Free Speech

"The ACLU has a long history of defending free speech — not just when it’s easy or agreeable, but also when it’s difficult and divisive. Core political speech must be defended most fiercely when it is controversial, because that is precisely when it is most at risk."

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Aug 08, 2025

Court Blocks Trump-Vance Administration’s Unlawful Restrictions on Violence Against Women Act Grants

In a victory for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and the state coalitions, a federal court in Rhode Island today issued a preliminary order blocking the Trump-Vance administration from enforcing many of the new unlawful restrictions on grants from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women.

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Jul 25, 2025

RI Judge Grants Motion to Block Trump-Vance Administration’s Unlawful Restrictions on Funding for Critical Services for Survivors, LGBTQI+ Youth, and Unhoused Communities

Rhode Island District Judge Melissa R. DuBose has granted a request to temporarily block the Trump-Vance administration from adding harmful new restrictions on federal grant programs administered by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

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Jul 21, 2025

Broad Nationwide Coalition Sues in Rhode Island to Block Trump Administration’s Unlawful Restrictions on Health and Housing Grants

New Certification Requirements Threaten Critical Services for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survivors, LGBTQI+ Youth, and Unhoused Communities

Logos of RI plaintiffs, RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence v. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Jul 01, 2025

R.I. Latino Arts Argues in Court that “Gender Ideology” Is Still Unconstitutionally Penalized by National Endowment for the Arts

Group asks court to strike down grant restrictions on various legal grounds

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Jul 01, 2025

Settlement Reached in Smithfield School District Social Media Censorship Lawsuit

The ACLU of Rhode Island today announced the favorable settlement of a federal lawsuit that challenged, as a violation of the First Amendment

Blue graphic with white and green graphics of a screenshot of an X (formerly twitter) account being password protected and a person typing on a smartphone.
Jun 30, 2025

RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence Seeks Injunction Against Trump Administration Grant Requirements

Attorneys for the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV) and a nationwide group of 16 other state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions have asked a federal judge to issue a preliminary injunction against a host of unlawful grant restrictions

Pink background with the RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence, ACLU of RI, and Lawyers’ Committee for RI logos. Text says “RI Coalition AgainstDomestic Violence et al. v. Pamela Bondi”
Jun 16, 2025

Challenging New Federal Grant Requirements, ACLU Of RI, Lawyers’ Committee for RI and National Organizations Sue on Behalf of RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence, National Coalitions

A nationwide group of 17 state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, led by the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV), filed a lawsuit today seeking to stop the Trump administration from imposing unlawful restrictions on grants

Pink background with the RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence, ACLU of RI, and Lawyers’ Committee for RI logos. Text says “RI Coalition AgainstDomestic Violence et al. v. Pamela Bondi”