Commentary

  • 03.29.19

    On Police Violence, Our Legal System and Community Members Disagree

    By

    It was a Saturday in August 2017 when I drove across town to gather in Euclid with family and friends of Luke Stewart, a young father who was killed by Euclid Police after they found him sleeping in his parked car. It was sunny and humid, and people had brought bagels, donuts, coffee. We were… more »

  • 03.08.19

    ACLU of Ohio Urges Improvements to Cleveland Police’s Search and Seizure Policies

    By

    As part of its consent decree process, the Cleveland Division of Police is revising its search and seizure policies, which govern when and how officers can stop, arrest, and detain community members. Although its 2018 revised drafts represent an improvement, there are still changes that must be made for the policies to comply with basic… more »

  • 03.04.19

    Criminal Justice Reform Efforts

    By

      The ACLU of Ohio sent a letter to Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof, in response to his public solicitation for thoughts and ideas regarding sentencing and criminal justice reform in Ohio. “To the extent any of these plans, legislation, or additional input from other stakeholders improves Ohio’s criminal justice system the ACLU of Ohio… more »

  • 02.19.19

    “Why Are Our Prisons So Overcrowded?” Asks Lawmaker As He Votes For Sentence Enhancement Bill

    By

    I wish this was a satirical headline published by The Onion. But it’s something we actually see and hear in the halls of the Statehouse from the officials we Ohioans have elected to represent us. Because of policy decisions, our state’s incarceration rate has more than quadrupled since 1970. Like clockwork, at the beginning of… more »

  • 01.28.19

    Cuyahoga County Running an Inhumane Facility – It’s Not the First Time

    By

    Protest photo outside of Cuyahoga County Justice Center – Tuesday, January 8, 2019   You’ve likely seen the headlines: seven people died in the Cuyahoga County jail between June and October 2018, prompting a U.S. Marshals investigation and then, scathing report detailing the shocking conditions people are subjected to at the hands of the County.… more »

  • 01.18.19

    Why this gay man cares passionately about protecting Roe v. Wade

    By

    A reflection to commemorate the 46th anniversary of “Roe” Every civil libertarian I’ve met, it seems, has their own personal story about why protecting essential freedoms is deeply personal. I am no different. Since my earliest days as an activist, two issues – LGBTQ rights and abortion rights – have resonated strongly with me. They’ve… more »

  • 01.16.19

    Turn On The Cameras

    By

      The ACLU of Ohio is encouraged by Speaker Householder’s stated plan to broadcast committee hearings in the Ohio House. Greater transparency and increased understanding of the legislative process will surely benefit all Ohioans. We hope the Senate will follow suit and do the same for all, instead of just some, of their own committees.… more »

  • 11.27.18

    Donate to These Awesome Organizations This Giving Tuesday

    By

    This Giving Tuesday we want to shed light on some amazing organizations who do incredible work for Ohioans each and every day. We have the opportunity to turn a normal weekday into something much bigger, don’t let this period of heightened social activism fade away! We hope you’ll consider giving to our friends and partners… more »

  • 11.15.18

    Transgender Day of Remembrance; We Won’t Forget Our 22

    By

    22. I remember my first year observing Trans Day of Remembrance. There was a vigil being held – everyone was around, heads on shoulders, arms wrapped around one another. We were crying, mourning the death of our siblings who were unjustly taken from us. Their names were read aloud as a candle was lit to… more »

  • 11.09.18

    A Post-Election Message

    By

    On Wednesday morning we woke up to an Ohio that looks very similar to the one we said goodnight to on Tuesday. We still face a mass incarceration crisis, we lack workable solutions to a deadly opioid epidemic, and the same lawmakers who opposed Ballot Issue 1 provide us with no plans for moving ahead.… more »