Legislation & Advocacy Hub

Our policy and political advocacy work is just one of the ways we advance civil liberties and civil rights in the District. We engage in the legislative process by testifying on bills before the D.C. Council, working in coalition with community partners and impacted communities, and conducting research to further our understanding of the issues most impacting D.C. residents.

We aim to support bills and initiatives that strengthen District residents’ Constitutional rights and civil liberties, and defeat bills that threaten them. Please use the tools and resources below to engage in our advocacy efforts!

Resources and Tools

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Mar 11, 2021

ACLU-DC Testimony before the DC Council Committee during the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice Performance Oversight Hearing

ACLU-DC statement emphasizes the importance of centering public health and economic justice rather than traumatic carceral approaches to public safety, as well as the trauma, violence, and ineffectiveness of...

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Dec 17, 2020

ACLU-DC Testifies Before the D.C. Council Committee on the Exploring Non-Law Enforcement Alternatives to Meeting Community Needs

The ACLU-DC testified at a Public Oversight Roundtable on alternatives to policing, stating the importance of decentering police and prioritizing community-driven systems.

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Oct 30, 2020

Letter to Metropolitan Police Department Police Chief Peter Newsham Regarding Possible Protest Activity During 2020 General Election and 2021 Inauguration

In preparation for potential protest activity surrounding election and inauguration, ACLU-DC wrote a letter to Chief of Police Peter Newsham calling attention to protestors' rights when demonstrating.

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Oct 27, 2020

ACLU-DC Testimony before the DC Council Committee on the WMATA Police Accountability Amendment Act

Bill 23-0886 provides better oversight and accountability of WMATA Police through barring the use of quotas to evaluate, incentivize, or discipline members. It also creates a civilian complaint board for...

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Oct 15, 2020

ACLU-DC and COS-DC Coalition Partners Testify Before the D.C. Council Committee on Police Reform Legislation and Protestors' Rights

The Community Oversight of Surveillance-D.C. (COS-DC) urges the D.C. Council to consider and set rules for police use of surveillance technologies.

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Oct 15, 2020

ACLU-DC Testifies Before the D.C. Council Committee on the Comprehensive Police and Justice Reform Amendment Act

ACLU-DC statement suggesting amendments to Bill 23-882 that center on limiting police power, strengthening transparency & oversight, and decentering criminalization all in favor of a community safety...

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