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.

Filter News

May 9, 2017

New Civil Asset Forfeiture Law Is an Important First Step But Must Go Farther

Finally, Iowa has a new law governing civil asset forfeiture, one that protects against the many abuses possible when law enforcement decides to take property and assets from an individual.

For...

Finally, Iowa has a new law governing civil asset forfeiture, one that protects against the many abuses possible when law enforcement decides to take property and assets from an individual.

For...

Feb 8, 2017

Secretary Pate: Stop Using African-Americans as Tokens to Push Your Voter ID Proposal

By Daniel Zeno, ACLU of Iowa Policy Counsel

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is pushing hard for a bill that would implement voter ID in Iowa. It’s bad enough that Secretary Pate’s proposal...

By Daniel Zeno, ACLU of Iowa Policy Counsel

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is pushing hard for a bill that would implement voter ID in Iowa. It’s bad enough that Secretary Pate’s proposal...

Jan 25, 2017

ACLU of Iowa Speaks Out Against Trump Immigration Executive Action

Iowa has no sanctuary cities, but we do have 26 Iowa county jails who have said publicly in the past that they will honor the constitution and not hold people longer than properly authorized, simply because...

Jan 23, 2017

Free Speech Shouldn’t Require a Permit and 72-Hour Notice

Update: In response to the ACLU and Rick Stewart, the City of...

Oct 21, 2016

Dan Johnston Cooperating Attorney Award

A civil liberties attorney whose work ended up in the history books, Dan Johnston's legacy has been honored with the creation of the Dan Johnston Cooperating Attorney Award.

Dan died in 2016 but his...

A civil liberties attorney whose work ended up in the history books, Dan Johnston's legacy has been honored with the creation of the Dan Johnston Cooperating Attorney Award.

Dan died in 2016 but his...

May 27, 2016

Nuisance Ordinances Punish Crime Victims

If you are concerned about someone harming you or your family, you shouldn't have to think twice about calling police.

But that is the position many Iowans have found themselves in because of so-...

If you are concerned about someone harming you or your family, you shouldn't have to think twice about calling police.

But that is the position many Iowans have found themselves in because of so-...