Press Releases

09.13.18

ACLU of Ohio Endorses Issue 1

Initiative Would Decriminalize Certain Drug Offenses and Redirect Money from Prisons to Communities

CLEVELAND — The ACLU of Ohio urges a “yes” vote on State Issue 1, which will reduce the number of people in state prison and reinvest the savings to  drug treatment programs and community services. The ballot measure would amend the state Constitution and require all fourth and fifth-degree felony offenses for obtaining, possessing, or Read more…

Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, Voting Rights

08.28.18

Campaign Calls for End to Unconstitutional Ban on Asking for Donations

A coordinated effort amongst 18 organizations in 12 states targeting more than 240 similar outdated ordinances.

CLEVELAND – Today the ACLU of Ohio in a letter nationally coordinated by the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, urged 69 Ohio municipalities to repeal their bans on panhandling. Since the 2015 Supreme Court decision in Reed v. Town of Gilbert finding heightened protections for free speech, every case brought against panhandling ordinances—more Read more…

Free Speech

08.27.18

Statewide Poll on Bail Reform Reveals Ohioans Are Ready to Improve Pretrial Process

CLEVELAND—Today the ACLU of Ohio and Pretrial Justice Institute (PJI) released the first statewide public opinion poll of voters’ views of bail and the pretrial justice system. The new data shows that Ohio voters want to reduce arrests, restrict detention, replace money bonds, and increase equity by addressing the racial and economic disparities in the Read more…

Criminal Justice

07.19.18

Cuyahoga County Council’s Proposed LGBT Protections Are a Start to Curbing Discrimination

CLEVELAND- Today, on July 19, at 1:30p.m., the Cuyahoga County Council is expected to consider two provisions that would protect LGBT community members. The first is a charter amendment that will add gender identity and expression to the list of protected classes in the HR manual for the county. The second measure is a nondiscrimination Read more…

LGBT Rights

07.18.18

Judge’s Dismissal of Wrongful Death Lawsuit Perpetuates Police Violence Against People of Color

CLEVELAND, OH — On Friday, July 13, US District Judge James Gwin dismissed a lawsuit filed by the family of Luke Stewart over his avoidable death at the hands of Euclid Police officer Matthew Rhodes on March 13, 2017.  Despite Judge Gwin’s explicit disgust about systemic problems within the Euclid Police Department, he ruled that Read more…

Police Practices, Racial Justice