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As the leading civil rights organization in the Lone Star State, we at the ACLU of Texas believe it is our duty to keep the public informed about the state of their civil liberties. The work we do at the legislature, in the courts, and in our communities is important, but there is no better defender of civil rights than a public that is informed and engaged.

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Jan 18, 2021

Like My Illegal Voting Charge, Capitol Riot Shows Racism in Criminal Justice

Voting Rights and Democracy

This piece was originally published in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 

The world...

By Crystal Mason

This piece was originally published in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 

The world...

By Crystal Mason
Crystal Mason Capitol Riot
Crystal Mason Capitol Riot
Jan 12, 2021

The Texas Legislature in a Time of Turmoil and Transition

Smart Justice

Today marks the opening of the 87th Texas Legislative Session — and it signals enormous opportunity and peril for civil liberties in Texas. With a tense national political climate, a pandemic devastating...

By Matthew Simpson

Today marks the opening of the 87th Texas Legislative Session — and it signals enormous opportunity and peril for civil liberties in Texas. With a tense national political climate, a pandemic devastating...

By Matthew Simpson
2021 Legislative Session Austin Capitol Image
2021 Legislative Session Austin Capitol Image
Dec 23, 2020

Allowing COVID-19 to Spread Unchecked in Texas Jails Threatens the Safety of All Texans

Smart Justice

In the past year, many of us have made difficult choices to keep ourselves and loved ones safe from COVID-19. But throughout Texas county jails, incarcerated people have fewer options and depend on local...

By Savannah Kumar

In the past year, many of us have made difficult choices to keep ourselves and loved ones safe from COVID-19. But throughout Texas county jails, incarcerated people have fewer options and depend on local...

By Savannah Kumar
Image: A stylized phot of the interious of a prison shows two levels of cell rows. Documents showing the ACLU of Texas and Texas Jail project logo are splayed across the image.
Image: A stylized phot of the interious of a prison shows two levels of cell rows. Documents showing the ACLU of Texas and Texas Jail project logo are splayed across the image.
Dec 18, 2020

Three Ways to Act on International Migrants Day

Texas is no stranger to the issue of migration.

Long before the modern U.S.-Mexico border was established in...

Texas is no stranger to the issue of migration.

Long before the modern U.S.-Mexico border was established in...

Image: Three women look on towards an unpictured speaker. They hold signs that say with the hashtag #FamiliesBelongTogether. One holds a U.S. flag up with her sign.
Image: Three women look on towards an unpictured speaker. They hold signs that say with the hashtag #FamiliesBelongTogether. One holds a U.S. flag up with her sign.
Dec 9, 2020

Biden Must Remove Border Patrol from Border Communities to Restore Civil Rights and Liberties

Shaw Drake, He/Him/His, Staff Attorney and Policy Counsel, Border and Immigrants’ Rights, ACLU of Texas...

Shaw Drake, He/Him/His, Staff Attorney and Policy Counsel, Border and Immigrants’ Rights, ACLU of Texas...

A Customs and Border Protection officer questions immigrants in Rio Grande Valley sector of the Texas border on Aug. 20, 2019.
A Customs and Border Protection officer questions immigrants in Rio Grande Valley sector of the Texas border on Aug. 20, 2019.
Dec 3, 2020

The Election is Over — Now Let’s Lead Freedom Forward

Smart Justice

In the past year, we’ve witnessed so many agonizing examples of the brutal reality of systemic racism. We’ve mourned the loss of more than 270,000 American lives from a deadly pandemic. We’ve seen a...

In the past year, we’ve witnessed so many agonizing examples of the brutal reality of systemic racism. We’ve mourned the loss of more than 270,000 American lives from a deadly pandemic. We’ve seen a...

Image: A stylized image of the Texas Capitol building is juxtaposed against a gradient background
Image: A stylized image of the Texas Capitol building is juxtaposed against a gradient background