Press

Looking for a social justice perspective on your story?

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.

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Senate Passes House Bill 1117, ACLU Seeks Plan to Ensure Civil Rights of Activists are Protected

How will the State of South Dakota ensure that the rights of the people planning to peacefully protest the Keystone XL Pipeline are protected?

March 5, 2020

House Judiciary Committee Kills Bill to Modify Presumptive Probation

The concept of putting fewer people behind bars may seem like a difficult stance to take in a state as conservative as South Dakota, but tough-on-crime policies can’t fix society’s problems – especially in regards to addiction.

March 4, 2020

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Bill That Would Thwart Free Speech and the Right to Protest

The ACLU of South Dakota opposes House Bill 1117 and is concerned that that this legislation will be applied in a manner that violates the Constitution.

March 3, 2020

House Lawmakers Vote to Kill Bill to Restore Voting Rights for People with Felony Convictions

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.

February 27, 2020

South Dakota Lawmakers Consider Bills That Would Chip Away at Protestors’ First Amendment Rights

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.

February 26, 2020

Senate Judiciary Committee Kills Bill That Would Help Decriminalize Addiction

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.

February 20, 2020