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 19, 2020

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Let’s Truly Honor It.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. It’s a time to pay tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Americans who have enriched our history and are instrumental to...

May 13, 2020

In Iowa, COVID-19 is Not an “Equal Opportunity” Disease

It’s official: Asian, Black, and Latinx Iowans are being disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to race and ethnicity...

It’s official: Asian, Black, and Latinx Iowans are being disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to race and ethnicity...

May 11, 2020

Unconstitutional: Excluding Planned Parenthood from Sex Ed Funding

A law passed by the Iowa Legislature and signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds last year would have blocked Planned Parenthood of the Heartland from providing state-approved sex education to young Iowans through two...

Apr 30, 2020

ACLU Requests Information on COVID-19 in Iowa Prisons

Government transparency about how state officials are handling COVID-19 in our state prisons is crucial. That’s why the ACLU has filed public records requests with Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department...

Apr 28, 2020

Protect Iowans from Evictions and Utility Shutoffs During COVID-19

All Iowans — regardless of their circumstances or background — should have access to safe, stable housing and utility services throughout this ongoing public health crisis.

That's why, along with 22...

All Iowans — regardless of their circumstances or background — should have access to safe, stable housing and utility services throughout this ongoing public health crisis.

That's why, along with 22...

Apr 20, 2020

Iowa Ranks Fifth-Worst In Racial Disparities of Marijuana Arrests

Even though studies show that Black people and white people use marijuana at about the same rate, a Black person in Iowa is 7.3 times more likely to be arrested for possession, according to an...