Press Releases

ACLU of Connecticut lawyers and advocates are leading experts on civil rights, civil liberties, and constitutional freedoms. They are regularly sought out by leading media to provide a voice to the most important issues facing Connecticut. If you are a member of the press and wish to speak with a representative of the ACLU of Connecticut, please contact us at media@acluct.org. If you are a member of the media and wish to receive ACLU of Connecticut press releases, please send your name, the outlet for which you work, your email address, and phone number to media@acluct.org with the subject line “Press Release Distribution.”

Jul 29, 2020

Reaction to the Connecticut General Assembly’s Passage of Pandemic Absentee Voting Bill

With yesterday’s Senate approval, the bill passes the Connecticut General Assembly and awaits action from Governor Ned Lamont.
Issue Areas: Voting Rights
Court Cases: Connecticut NAACP v. Merrill
Jul 29, 2020

ACLU-CT Reacts to Legislature’s Passage of Police Accountability Bill

The Connecticut General Assembly senate today voted to approve a bill regarding police accountability. The senate’s decision followed last week’s house of representatives vote approving the bill. With today’s senate approval, the bill passes the legislature and awaits action from the governor.
Jul 02, 2020

Groups File Federal Lawsuit Seeking to Expand Connecticut Absentee Voting in 2020 Elections Due to COVID-19

The ACLU and ACLU of Connecticut filed a federal lawsuit seeking to make absentee mail-in voting available to every eligible Connecticut voter during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Issue Areas: Voting Rights
Court Cases: Connecticut NAACP v. Merrill
Jun 29, 2020

Reaction to Conclusion of Criminal Justice Commission Meeting Regarding Reappointments of State’s Attorney Maureen Platt and State’s Attorney Gail Hardy

The Criminal Justice Commission today announced that it would reappoint State’s Attorney Maureen Platt as State’s Attorney for the Waterbury Judicial District and that State’s Attorney Gail Hardy had withdrawn her bid for reappointment as State’s Attorney for the Hartford Judicial District.
Issue Areas: Smart Justice
Jun 26, 2020

New Statewide Study Shines Light on Role Town and State Police Contracts Play in Impeding Police Accountability, Transparency

After more than one year of Freedom of Information requests, the ACLU of Connecticut today released a new statewide study of police union contracts  titled: “Bargained Away: How Local and State Governments in Connecticut Have Bargained Away Police Accountability.”
Issue Areas: Policing, Open Government, Racial Justice
Jun 15, 2020

Reaction to Governor Lamont’s Issuance of Executive Order Number 8

The following is a reaction from Melvin Medina, public policy and advocacy director for the ACLU of Connecticut, to Governor Lamont's executive order regarding policing.
Jun 07, 2020

Statement Regarding Settlement Reached in Federal Lawsuit Seeking to Protect Incarcerated People from COVID-19

The agreement requires the Department of Correction to follow procedures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 for all people who are incarcerated in DOC prisons and jails pre-trial and post-sentence.
Court Cases: McPherson et al v Lamont et al, Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association et al v Lamont and Cook
May 31, 2020

Statement Regarding Police Presence at Protests in Waterbury, Elsewhere

We call on all police in Connecticut to follow the law, uphold the constitution, and protect public safety by respecting people’s rights to peacefully protest.
Issue Areas: Racial Justice, Policing, Free Speech
May 30, 2020

Statement Regarding Police Presence at Protests in Bridgeport

People are protesting in Bridgeport following the killing by Minneapolis police of George Floyd. The following is a reaction from David McGuire, executive director of the ACLU of Connecticut.
Issue Areas: Racial Justice, Free Speech, Policing