The ACLU of South Dakota's Communications Director would love to speak with you. Janna Farley handles queries from reporters on local, state, and national civil liberties issues. ACLU of South Dakota team members can provide information and assist journalists by lending important perspectives on issues such as LGBTQ advocacy, abortion rights, criminal justice reform, and more. Contact Janna directly at jfarley@aclu.org.
Denying the right to vote based on a citizen’s financial ability is the modern equivalent of a poll tax and violates the 14th Amendment, which prohibits the government from treating certain groups of people unfairly.
No one should have to fear the government coming after them for exercising their First Amendment rights. But two bills advancing through the South Dakota Legislature would do just that.
It’s unfortunate that our lawmakers aren’t willing to advance legislation that would prioritize people and not prisons and to help reform our state’s criminal justice system.
The ACLU of South Dakota opposes Senate Bill 6, Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg’s second attempt to modify presumptive probation.
House Bill 1117 would intimidate peaceful protesters and chip away at their constitutional rights.
House Bill 1117 and the narrative surrounding it only creates a state of fear that pits activists and organizers who are exercising their First Amendment rights against government officials and law enforcement.