News & Commentary

At a time when the Black Lives Matter movement has prompted demands for more police accountability, the RI Attorney General’s office has issued an Access to Public Records Act (APRA) opinion which makes it more difficult for the public to monitor allegations of police misconduct.

The ACLU of RI has filed a federal lawsuit charging the Providence Police with discrimination and other rights violations against a Black recruit who was dismissed Academy.

In an important win for voting rights, the Supreme Court has rejected efforts by the RNC to block Rhode Island from eliminating onerous witness/notary requirements for vote by mail in 2020.

Statements from voting rights groups about GOP appeal of mail ballot case to SCOTUS.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has unanimously upheld implementation of a consent agreement that suspends RI’s witness/notary requirements for voting by mail in the September and November 2020 elections.

Groups urged the passage of a budget provision to extend reimbursement funding currently available for School Resource Officers to mental and behavioral health support professionals.

A federal lawsuit has been filed challenging Rhode Island’s witness/notary requirements for voting by mail in 2020 elections.

In response to concerns that remote learning was causing educational harm, in violation of laws that protect students with disabilities, Education Commissioner Infante-Green issued guidance to districts confirming their obligation to provide in-person services to those students.

With only 10 weeks until Rhode Island’s September 8 primary, 16 organizations concerned about voting rights are urging state officials to take “immediate executive actions” to fix voting problems experienced on June 2.