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.”

Oct 17, 2018

Reaction to Firing of Hartford Police Department Employee Stephen Barone

The following is a reaction from ACLU-CT executive director David McGuire to the Hartford Police Department’s decision to fire Stephen Barone, a police department manager who was promoted after being disciplined in an excessive use of force case and who later appeared on video threatening youth.
Issue Areas: Policing
Aug 10, 2018

Reaction to Video of Hartford Police Sergeant

ACLU of Connecticut executive director David McGuire had the following reaction to footage of Hartford Police Department employee Stephen Barone telling a group of people that he was “trigger happy,” and “could [get] a ton of money on overtime if I have to shoot somebody.”
Issue Areas: Policing
Jan 26, 2018

No Charges in Jayson Negron’s Death Shows Need for Police Accountability

"Today’s announcement is the latest sign that the government employees who are supposed to enforce the law have no one enforcing the law on them."
Issue Areas: Policing
Dec 15, 2017

ACLU of Connecticut Calls for Transparency, Investigation after New Britain Police Shoot and Kill One Person, Injure Two

On Thursday, December 14, 2017, New Britain police shot and killed one person and shot and injured two others after chasing the car in which all three were present. The ACLU of Connecticut released the following statement.
Issue Areas: Policing
Nov 09, 2017

Another Traffic Stop Study Shows Racial Disparities in Policing in Connecticut

The third statewide report about police traffic stops shows that some police in Connecticut are disproportionately stopping Black and Latino drivers.
Issue Areas: Policing, Racial Justice
Oct 10, 2017

ACLU of Connecticut Statement on ESPN’s Suspension of Jemele Hill

ESPN, a company headquartered in Bristol, Connecticut, suspended anchor Jemele Hill after she shared her thoughts about NFL protests on her personal social media page. David McGuire, executive director of the ACLU of Connecticut, issued the following statement.
Issue Areas: Free Speech, Racial Justice, Policing
Oct 05, 2017

ACLU of Connecticut Comment on Assault Conviction of Former Hartford Police Officer Sean Spell

Sean Spell, a former Hartford police sergeant, was convicted of assault charges stemming from an incident in which he stomped on a handcuffed man’s head during an arrest in June of 2016. The following is a reaction from David McGuire, executive director of the ACLU of Connecticut.
Issue Areas: Policing, Racial Justice
Sep 28, 2017

Another Study Shows Racial Disparities in Policing in Connecticut

Connecticut's second statewide police Taser report shows increases in racial disparities in police Taser use, increases in police Taser use against people in mental health crises, and more police Taser use against children.
Issue Areas: Policing, Racial Justice, Youth and Student Rights