News & Commentary

Steven Brown, executive director of the ACLU of Rhode Island, issued the following statement today in response to the controversy surrounding the Westerly Yacht Club barring women from being full members of the club: “The ACLU has read with interest the recent news stories about the Westerly Yacht Club’s policy barring women from being full members of the club. “The ACLU fully appreciates that private clubs have a general First Amendment right to associate without government interference – a right that we support. However, that right is not absolute. In this case, it is our understanding that the Club opens some of its facilities to non-members, serves as an important networking opportunity for business people in the community, and has benefitted from state and federal funds over the years. “It also seems clear that the ban on women members is not because the Club seeks to express some sort of political view about the role of women, but is instead simply an archaic vestige from another era when women were treated as second-class citizens in a wide variety of settings. Indeed, under this antiquated policy, even a woman’s auxiliary status is dependent on her husband not divorcing her or dying. “Times have changed, as have our laws. Based on these facts, we believe that the Club’s actions constitute a violation of both the state’s Civil Rights Act and Rhode Island laws banning sex discrimination in public accommodations. “This being 2016 and not 1916, we trust the Club will immediately change its policy and welcome women as full members. Otherwise, we look forward to hearing from any individuals who are adversely affected by the Club’s discriminatory policy so we can work with them to address this unacceptable state of affairs.”

Below are brief statements from five media and free speech organizations, including the Rhode Island Press Association, expressing thanks to Governor Gina Raimondo for vetoing a so-called “revenge porn” bill that would have had a chilling effect on free speech rights.

First Amendment and freedom of press advocates wrote to Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo this week urging her to veto recently passed “revenge porn” legislation that although well-intended could impede legitimate newsgathering and chill protected speech.

By Judge Stephen Fortunato (ret.)

In advance of a scheduled Ethics Commission meeting tomorrow which includes a discussion of a proposed rule to establish a moratorium on the filing of ethics complaints before elections, the ACLU of Rhode Island urged the Commission to give “more thorough consideration of the consequences of such an approach.”

A federal judge has ruled that a North Smithfield man’s due process rights were violated when the North Smithfield Police Department refused for over six years to return lawfully possessed weapons that officers had seized from him, and instead demanded that he obtain a state court order if he wanted to get his guns back.

Responding to the threat of a lawsuit by the ACLU of Rhode Island, the Town of Johnston has indicated that it will halt enforcement of an anti-panhandling ordinance banning “aggressive begging.”  In doing so, the town joins the cities of Providence and Cranston in backing down from enforcement of these unconstitutional ordinances.

In a precedent-setting ruling, U.S. District Judge Ronald Lagueux issued a decision today holding that the City of Cranston violated the one person, one vote requirements of the U.S. Constitution when it allocated the entire incarcerated population of the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) as “residents” of one ward of the City when it drew district lines for the City Council and School Committee following the 2010 Census.  The ruling allows the City 30 days to present the Court with a new redistricting plan meeting constitutional requirements.

The ACLU of Rhode Island issued the following statement today in advance of a major conference being held tomorrow designed to encourage the employment of ex-offenders. The conference, “Road Map to Reentry,” has been organized by U.S. Attorney Peter Neronha, with support from the Department of Corrections, the Governor’s office and many others: