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Since 1956, the ACLU of Louisiana has been here to defend the basic rights and freedoms of all Louisianians.
There are a lot of misconceptions about what we stand for. We stand for liberty. We believe that the rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights are for all of us – rich or poor, gay or straight, regardless of religion, skin color, or the size of one’s wallet.
We believe that people accused of a crime should have access to the basic necessities: a clean living space; a competent lawyer; food; and medical care.
We fight for these ideas in the courts on behalf of people who have been mistreated by the government. We work to get stories of rights abuses into the press. We work in the community, organizing town meetings, educating people about their rights and advocating with politicians and policymakers. We also work in the legislature, advocating for laws that will protect everyone and fighting measures that would limit our freedoms.
Here are some of the things we’ve done recently:
• In the week after Hurricane Katrina, James Terry was spotted by the National Guard on the balcony of his own home and arrested for looting. He sat in jail for 6 ½ months – without being charged, without access to a lawyer, without any evidence he’d committed a crime. When we started asking questions, he was released.
• In 2008, the New Orleans police tried to stop several Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs from parading. The Second Line groups were told their parade permit was being revoked after they’d already gotten permission and paid the fee. We went to court and made sure their annual celebration went on as planned.
• In Acadia Parish prison, facilities were so overcrowded that inmates were sleeping on the floor in toilet water. The plumbing hadn’t been updated since the 1940’s, windows were boarded over, there was exposed wiring. Inmates went years without seeing natural light or going outside. We got the parish to build a new prison.
From women’s rights, to same-sex marriage, to the freedom to express one’s political views, we are on the ground fighting those who would use the power of government to dictate our personal choices.
We want to make Louisiana a place where justice is not just an idea but a reality.
But we can’t do it without you. Join, donate or volunteer with us today.
If you believe your rights have been violated, click here.
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