My friends, I will not mince words.
The results of the presidential election will present challenges for our rights and liberties. We are now, once again, in for the fight for our lives and for our democracy. Nevertheless, we persist in our commitment to protect and expand civil rights and civil liberties for all. And we can do that because we know, once again, that we are in this together.
The ACLU both nationally and in all our state affiliates and local chapters, started preparing for a wide range of scenarios based on the outcome of the election – regardless of who was elected – early this year. It takes all of us, though, to make those plans come to life. When you respond to action alerts, attend protests and Advocacy Days at the legislature, write a letter, or send a gift, you are aiding our shared cause. We are ready and energized to move forward, along with you all, toward justice and equity.
We will strengthen our laws in Washington to protect immigrants, the LGBTQIA2S+ community, protesters, and people who find themselves made vulnerable by oppressions whether based on race, religion, disability status, or other factors. This work is not new to us. And while we do not always win, the work we do with and beside community sustains our commitment to achieving a just and equitable society for all.
Here is a sample of the work we did in 2024 to defend and extend civil rights and civil liberties for people in Washington:
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We worked with Empowering Latina Leaders & Action (ELLA) to transform the election system for the Sunnyside School District, which violated the Washington Voting Rights Act. The adoption of a district-based electoral system addressed the stark lack of representation caused by at-large voting; despite the district’s 81% Latinx population, no Latinx candidate had ever defeated a white candidate in a school board race.
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The ACLU-WA advanced a bill in the 2023-24 legislative session farther than ever before to ensure access to quality healthcare for everyone in Washington. Although the Keep our Care Act (KOCA) ultimately failed to pass, the strength of our advocacy and community partnerships facilitated a robust conversation about the need for more oversight of consolidation of healthcare entities. These consolidations are prolific in Washington and can negatively impact cost, quality and access to necessary health care services, including end-of-life, reproductive and gender affirming care.
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ACLU-WA filed Currie et al. v. Spokane, a case which challenges two laws that punish sleeping and camping outside. Our case gives our state courts the opportunity to better protect people in Washington and to confirm that the criminalization of unhoused people is cruel.
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We won a key ruling in King County Superior Court to temporarily stop Initiative 2081 from going into effect. Along with our partners at Legal Voice and QLaw Foundation, we filed a lawsuit on behalf of ten plaintiffs in May to prevent implementation of the initiative, which was passed by the Legislature in March and contains vague, misleading language that changes important laws designed to protect youth privacy. Its implementation would harm LGBTQIA2S+ students, homeless students, youth of color, and students from other marginalized backgrounds. The lawsuit continues but we are heartened that some of its most harmful provisions are blocked for now.
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ACLU-WA continued to build on last session’s initial $104 million investment towards a Medicaid-like program for immigrant communities. We advocated alongside our allies at the Health Equity for Immigrants Campaign to secure an additional $28.4 million in the Legislature’s 2024 budget to fund basic health care for low-income, undocumented immigrants. While this additional funding is critical, we recognize the necessity and will continue to fight to ensure that this program is fully funded and accountable to the communities it serves.
As you review the accomplishments detailed in the legislative, legal and advocacy sections of our 2024 Annual Report, I hope you take comfort and pride in not only what we have achieved with your help, but in the values of justice and equity we continue to hold as we move forward at this fraught moment. We remain ready, and united with you.
Together, we will protect our democracy now and for generations to come. Together, we rise.
Onward toward justice and freedom,
Michele Storms, ACLU-WA Executive Director
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