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The Latest

News & Commentary
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Closure Reached in Suit Against Providence for Failing to Provide Special Education Services to Preschool Children

Closure reached in a federal class-action lawsuit filed in May 2023 against the Providence school district and the R.I. Department of Education, alleging that hundreds of children with disabilities between the ages of three and five were routinely not receiving critical and legally-required special education services.
News & Commentary
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ACLU of RI Sues Governor McKee for Restricting State House Protest Before his January “State of the State” Address

“It is incredibly important in today’s political environment that the First Amendment rights of the people to assemble, protest, and petition the government are preserved. By filing this action, our clients have decided to stand up on behalf of all Rhode Islanders to preserve those fundamental rights.”
News & Commentary
Logos of RI plaintiffs, RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence v. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Blue and brown graphics of a house and a healthcare provider.

Federal Court Blocks Trump-Vance Administration’s Unlawful Restrictions on Health and Housing Grants

A federal judge entered an order preliminarily blocking the unlawful restrictions imposed on federal grants administered by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
News & Commentary
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ACLU Files Brief in Support of Gun Owners Criminally Charged for Using Medical Marijuana

"Friend of the court” brief filed supporting a challenge to a federal law that completely bars unlawful users of controlled substances – including medical marijuana, which, though legal in Rhode Island, remains illegal at the federal level –– from possessing firearms.

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Criminal Justice Reform First Amendment Government Transparency Immigrants’ Rights LGBTQ+ Rights Privacy & Technology Racial Justice View All Issues

ACLU Foundation of RI Annual Meeting

2025 marks the 66th anniversary of the ACLU of Rhode Island. For more than six decades, we have worked to ensure that “We the People” means all of us. This year’s Annual Meeting celebrates not only our history, but also the power of communities rising together to defend freedom, justice, and equality.

Explore Event
Light and dark blue graphic with a red statue of liberty graphic and a photo of the ACLU Foundation of RI's 2024 Annual Meeting.

Featured Case

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National Alliance to End Homelessness v. Scott Turner, et al.

This case suit challenges new funding restrictions on federal housing grants. Under the new funding application rules, service providers and communities are blocked from applying for federal housing funds for new permanent supportive housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness if they operate in jurisdictions with policies the Trump-Vance administration disfavors. This includes cities and states, like Rhode Island, that the Trump Administration deems to be “sanctuary protections” for immigrants; that provide services considered “harm reduction” services for drug users; and that have inclusive policies for transgender people.