News & Commentary

Learn about what's happening across the most pressing civil liberties issues of our time, and what you can do.

A new poll commissioned by the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of West Virginia and released publicly today shows nearly two-thirds of voters in West Virginia support the Dream Act, which would provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants whose parents brought them to the United States as children. A majority of West Virginia voters also support a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who work in “frontline” industries during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Poca High School administrators’ gendered dress code for graduation ceremonies next month is unlawful and must be rescinded immediately, ACLU-WV has informed county school officials.

Yesterday, police shot Denaul Dickerson, a 33-year-old Black man on Charleston’s West Side.

Today, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in a case involving a transgender teen boy who has harassed, bullied and degraded by an administrator for using the boys restroom after school one day.

Yesterday, Governor Justice signed Senate Bill 334 into law mere hours after it hit his desk. 

The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia (ACLU-WV) and Mountain State Justice, Inc. today sent a letter to Gov. Jim Justice to put his administration on notice that specific provisions in Senate Bill 334 — the legislation that seeks to all but eradicate syringe service distribution programs in West Virginia — are unconstitutional. If Governor Justice signs this legislation into law, he will be opening up the state, county commissions and city councils to liability.

Appalachian Queer Youth Summit (AQYS) members shared a letter with Governor Justice asking for a veto on HB 3293, the transgender athlete ban. 

This morning, ACLU-WV sent to Gov. Jim Justice a letter on behalf of almost 300 West Virginians that work, advocate, or volunteer with individuals who are directly impacted by injection drug use.