Our Recent Work

As the leading civil rights organization in our state, we at the ACLU of Iowa 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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May 23, 2018

Buena Vista Cheerleader Who Took A Knee Wins Mannheimer Award

Last September, 19-year-old Alyssa Parker, along with several other cheerleaders at Buena Vista University, a private college in northwestern Iowa, decided to take a knee during the national anthem of a...

Apr 24, 2018

Iowans Shouldn't Have to Stay in Jail Just Because They Don't Have Money

Most Iowans can agree that people shouldn’t have to stay in jail just because they aren’t rich.

Yet that is the way our current bail and bond system sometimes works. Whether or not...

Most Iowans can agree that people shouldn’t have to stay in jail just because they aren’t rich.

Yet that is the way our current bail and bond system sometimes works. Whether or not...

Apr 11, 2018

Signing SF 481 into Law Marks a Dark Day for Iowa

Yesterday was a dark day for our state. Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law SF 481, the so-called "anti-sanctuary cities" bill and one of the worse anti-immigrant bills in recent state...

Mar 29, 2018

Censorship Stinks in Sibley, Iowa

The ability of citizens to criticize their government is a fundamental First Amendment right, and yet when Josh Harms of Sibley, Iowa, did just that on his website, he was threatened with legal action from...

Feb 15, 2018

ACLU, Planned Parenthood Argue for Abortion Rights in Front of the Iowa Supreme Court

Wednesday the Iowa Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case challenging abortion restrictions passed last session. If the Court rules in favor of Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Iowa, the state will...

Nov 30, 2017

Let's Stop Racist "Pretextual" Traffic Stops

It's a story you hear all the time, either in the media or from a friend. Or maybe you've even experienced it: A person of color is driving and is stopped by the police for no apparent reason, although a...