A second Trump administration will launch a sustained attack on our civil rights and civil liberties. As detailed in the ACLU’s analysis, President-elect Trump promises to pursue mass deportations, attack diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, suppress the right to protest and retaliate against political dissidents, erase federal protections for LGBTQIA2S+ people, and promote unconstitutional and brutal practices in the criminal legal system. While Washington’s strong state constitution and civil rights laws offer some protection, we must be prepared to defend the rights of Washingtonians.
The ACLU-WA identified key areas where Washington’s legislature and executive branch may work collaboratively to resist federal repression and advance a vision for the future where everyone in Washington lives with dignity and equity, enjoying freedoms unimpeded by racial and economic injustice and other forms of oppression.
Take action and learn more about our plans nationwide at aclu.org/firewall.
TIGHTEN PROTECTIONS FOR THOSE WHO SEEK, PROVIDE, AND HELP OTHERS OBTAIN REPRODUCTIVE AND GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.
A second Trump administration will leverage federal law and funding to target gender-affirming and reproductive medical care across the country. Washington has made significant progress to protect providers, helpers, and patients seeking medical care in the state. Washington’s leaders should tighten protections in Washington’s Shield Law (HB 1469) to ensure that Washingtonians have access to critical health care.
SUSTAIN AND EXPAND PROTECTIONS AGAINST MASS DEPORTATION AND IMMIGRATION RAIDS, AND INCREASE RESOURCES TO IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.
President-elect Trump has promised to mobilize the U.S. military and state National Guard to engage in mass deportation of immigrants, including targeting children and families. Washington should prevent state and local officials from participating in or collaborating with federal immigration enforcement and expand access to pardons for people facing potential deportation. Washington’s Governor and Attorney General should continue to defend and strengthen the Keep Washington Working Act. And, because of potential federal hostility to immigrant communities, Washington should invest in health equity for immigrants and provide support for newly arrived immigrants.
CURTAIL DATA SHARING THAT ENABLES ABUSIVE SURVEILLANCE.
The federal executive branch has claimed immense power to surveil, investigate, and impose sanctions that deprive individuals of their freedoms. The second Trump administration is likely to abuse broad surveillance powers to target political opponents with investigation and prosecution. Washington’s leaders and its agencies have the opportunity to limit collection and sharing of sensitive data to prevent misuse by the federal government and other states hostile to Washington’s policies, including limiting, eliminating, or auditing data sharing agreements with third-party cloud-based vendors.
PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF PROTESTERS AND POLITICAL DISSIDENTS.
President-elect Trump threatened to use federal law enforcement and military to suppress protest. Washington’s leaders should limit collaboration with federal efforts to criminalize protest, continue to protect our state constitutional rights to free speech, and ensure that state and local law enforcement comply with and strengthen existing laws limiting the use of force and protecting those engaging in political dissent.
INCREASE STATE CIVIL RIGHTS AND ANTIDISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS
President-elect Trump has promised to erase federal protections for LGBTQIA2S+ people and used particularly virulent rhetoric targeting transgender people. Washington’s leaders should strengthen state protections against discrimination and increase resources available to marginalized communities. Washington’s leaders should also resist attempts to censor academic discussion of race, gender and systemic oppression, and be prepared to fight any attacks by the federal government on education, employment, or economic opportunity initiatives.
The ACLU-WA identified key areas where Washington’s legislature and executive branch may work collaboratively to resist federal repression and advance a vision for the future where everyone in Washington lives with dignity and equity, enjoying freedoms unimpeded by racial and economic injustice and other forms of oppression.
Take action and learn more about our plans nationwide at aclu.org/firewall.
TIGHTEN PROTECTIONS FOR THOSE WHO SEEK, PROVIDE, AND HELP OTHERS OBTAIN REPRODUCTIVE AND GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.
A second Trump administration will leverage federal law and funding to target gender-affirming and reproductive medical care across the country. Washington has made significant progress to protect providers, helpers, and patients seeking medical care in the state. Washington’s leaders should tighten protections in Washington’s Shield Law (HB 1469) to ensure that Washingtonians have access to critical health care.
SUSTAIN AND EXPAND PROTECTIONS AGAINST MASS DEPORTATION AND IMMIGRATION RAIDS, AND INCREASE RESOURCES TO IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.
President-elect Trump has promised to mobilize the U.S. military and state National Guard to engage in mass deportation of immigrants, including targeting children and families. Washington should prevent state and local officials from participating in or collaborating with federal immigration enforcement and expand access to pardons for people facing potential deportation. Washington’s Governor and Attorney General should continue to defend and strengthen the Keep Washington Working Act. And, because of potential federal hostility to immigrant communities, Washington should invest in health equity for immigrants and provide support for newly arrived immigrants.
CURTAIL DATA SHARING THAT ENABLES ABUSIVE SURVEILLANCE.
The federal executive branch has claimed immense power to surveil, investigate, and impose sanctions that deprive individuals of their freedoms. The second Trump administration is likely to abuse broad surveillance powers to target political opponents with investigation and prosecution. Washington’s leaders and its agencies have the opportunity to limit collection and sharing of sensitive data to prevent misuse by the federal government and other states hostile to Washington’s policies, including limiting, eliminating, or auditing data sharing agreements with third-party cloud-based vendors.
PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF PROTESTERS AND POLITICAL DISSIDENTS.
President-elect Trump threatened to use federal law enforcement and military to suppress protest. Washington’s leaders should limit collaboration with federal efforts to criminalize protest, continue to protect our state constitutional rights to free speech, and ensure that state and local law enforcement comply with and strengthen existing laws limiting the use of force and protecting those engaging in political dissent.
INCREASE STATE CIVIL RIGHTS AND ANTIDISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS
President-elect Trump has promised to erase federal protections for LGBTQIA2S+ people and used particularly virulent rhetoric targeting transgender people. Washington’s leaders should strengthen state protections against discrimination and increase resources available to marginalized communities. Washington’s leaders should also resist attempts to censor academic discussion of race, gender and systemic oppression, and be prepared to fight any attacks by the federal government on education, employment, or economic opportunity initiatives.
