SETTLED: We took Pawtucket to court 7 years ago, after a 13-yr-old African American honors student was unlawfully handcuffed + arrested by the School Resource Officer (SRO). Our client won $5,000 in damages, and we expect Pawtucket to revise how it tracks police interactions in the city’s schools.

⚓️ Rhode Island summer (and end of legislative session) here we come.

Care about keeping our government institutions transparent and accountable? Look no further, these are bills we’re (mostly) supporting at the RI State House today about public records and municipal transparency...

CASE UPDATE: Last night, the appeals court denied our emergency motion filed on behalf of the RI Child Advocate. What this means: The DOJ is still prevented from receiving any medical records, but the hospital is required to turn over anonymized and de-identified records to the Texas court.

BREAKING: In the latest update to protecting RI kids' privacy, we just filed an emergency motion to stop RI Hospital from turning over the medical records of minor patients receiving treatment for gender dysphoria to a judge in Texas. Filed w/ the Lawyers’ Committee for RI and @democracyforward.org

The ACLU of Rhode Island is hosting an interactive event this evening in support of the Rhode Island Voting Rights Act and other bills. Check out the details below ⬇️

We've got some seats left for tonight's postcard writing event! Join us at 6pm at William Hall Library in Cranston to write to your legislators in support of voting rights, immigrants' rights, and students' privacy. Snacks + air conditioning provided! Free event, registration is required... (1/2)

Read more about this important decision here: www.riaclu.org/news/judge-u...

BREAKING: Protecting the medical privacy of RI children, a federal judge in RI has just quashed the Dept. of Justice's subpoena for RI Hospital's records of minors who have received gender affirming care treatment since 2020.

We’re excited to announce... the bills we'll be writing about during our Postcards to Legislators event next Mon., May 18! 🗳️ The RI Voting Rights Act, to protect voters' rights 💻 A bill to protect students’ privacy 🗽 A bill to close a loophole between state + federal immigration law Register ⬇️

NEW: In a hearing that went into Tuesday evening, a RI judge slammed the DOJ for making "misrepresentations" to a Texas judge who ordered Rhode Island Hospital to turn over medical records of transgender youth Clock is ticking on Thursday deadline The latest: www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/12/m...

We were just in court alongside the Lawyers’ Committee for RI to prevent the Dept. of Justice from subpoenaing extensive private medical records of minors who have received gender affirming care treatment at RI Hospital.

We SUPPORT the reinstatement of the Comprehensive Community-Police Relations Act (CCPRA, S2303). This would require… -Every RI law enforcement agency to report traffic stop & search data by race -The data to be analyzed & publicly available -A community advisory board to oversee the process

We're calling on legislators in both chambers of the Rhode Island General Assembly to bring the RI Voting Rights Act to the floor with all ten amendments supported by our broad coalition! Contact your state lawmakers and ask them to advance the RI VRA (H-8334/S-3143) without delay.

UPDATE: A R.I. federal judge DENIED the government’s attempt to have our motion to quash their subpoena of RI Hospital’s patient records transferred to a Texas court. The case will continue with an in-person hearing next Tuesday, May 12.

We have about 30 spots left for our event on Monday, May 18! Join us to write postcards to RI legislators. This is a free event, but registration is required: www.riaclu.org/event/writin...

Good news! Yesterday, the RI Senate Judiciary Committee voted to pass S2047, the “364 day misdemeanor” bill. The bill will now advance to the Senate. Contact your state senator and rep. in SUPPORT of S2047 and H7198 (which is still in committee) to help us get this important bill passed this year!

RHODE ISLAND: Immigration bills are being heard on Tuesday, May 5, in the Senate Judiciary Committee. This is a great chance to take tangible action! Scroll through this thread and call or email your state senator in SUPPORT of these important bills.

BREAKING: We just filed a motion in court w/ Lawyers' Committee for RI to stop the federal gov's attempt to get the private medical records of minor patients who've received treatment for gender dysphoria at RI Hospital. We won’t stand for this unprecedented intrusion on the privacy of RI children.

Join us on Monday, May 18 for a postcard writing event in Cranston! We’ll give you tips about writing to your legislators, and provide all the materials needed to write postcards about two of our priority bills. Registration required: https://www.riaclu.org/event/writing-postcards-to-legislators/

PUBLIC RECORDS: The RI court system is transitioning to a new electronic case system. At a public hearing this morning, ACLU cooperating attorney Lynette Labinger raised concerns that some of the proposed rules to govern the new system could actually undermine public access. Our concerns include:

The RI Legislative Session is on April break. This is a great time to review where bills are in the process of becoming law and send your legislators a message about what YOU want to see pass this year. Check out our legislative dashboard: www.riaclu.org/legislative-...

It’s 4/20, you know what that means: It’s time to read our Know Your Rights FAQ about marijuana use in RI! https://www.riaclu.org/know-your-rights/know-your-rights-recreational-marijuana-ri/

In case you missed it: We published an op-ed in the Rhode Island Current about automated license plate reader cameras! Unregulated police surveillance is not, and never will be, a pathway to community safety.

BREAKING: A second court victory today against the Trump Administration! We just blocked the federal government's most recent attempt to restrict funding for orgs that support survivors of domestic and sexual violence!

BREAKING VICTORY: Agreeing with arguments we made in court last month, a RI judge just dismissed the Dept. of Justice’s attempt to obtain Rhode Islanders’ sensitive voter data, including drivers’ license and social security numbers. This is a huge win for data privacy and voters' rights.

As immigrants in our communities continue to be targeted and deported, it’s more important than ever that Rhode Island closes a loophole between state and federal law that can cause legal residents who have been here for decades to face automatic deportation for the simplest misdemeanors.

PASSED: Yesterday, the RI House passed the student computer privacy bill for the fourth year in a row! (H7032, S2786) Now the bill just needs to get out of Senate Education committee, and through the Senate.

This week at the RI State House we’re supporting bills for justice reform, kids, and voters. 🧵

SUPPORT: H7032 + S2786 This legislation would protect students’ privacy by putting no-brainer limitations on when school officials can turn on the cameras and microphones on school-loaned computers. Currently, officials can potentially access school-loaned computers even when students are at home.

Nobody should be afraid of seeking essential health care because they might be tracked or surveilled. Read our latest article about two important bills in the RI Legislative Session that could limit how data about you can be used to infer specific personal health care decisions!

A heartfelt thank you for your support during 401Gives! We know our legal and educational work to defend civil liberties in Rhode Island (like yesterday's victory to protect federal housing grants!) would not be possible without your generosity.

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far! We’re in the last hour and only 14 away from 100 donors, will you help us get there?

Our 401Gives campaign is still going strong! We’re at 69 donors — help us get to 100 donors by 6pm: www.401gives.org/organization...

BREAKING: A federal appeals court just ruled to protect funding for proven solutions to homelessness by refusing to remove a block on the federal government's unlawful restrictions on funding.

VICTORY: A RI judge ruled late yesterday that the Trump administration violated the law in attempting to limit who has access to federal housing funds based on an ideological, partisan agenda.

We would do anything for Ralphie. Here’s a link to our 401Gives page, if you want to support our work: https://www.401gives.org/organizations/aclu-of-rhode-island

Donation Request: I'm in my 2nd board term for ACLU RI very grateful for services we provide to the community. Consider making a donation in any amount to support & show that this work is needed and appreciated. Thank you! www.401gives.org/p2p/648361/y... #401Gives #ACLURI @riaclu.bsky.social

Every week, we’re monitoring civil liberties issues (like privacy!) across the state, and mobilizing people in their communities to stand up for their rights, for wins like this one in January ⬇️ Help us continue this work by making a donation during 401Gives: www.401gives.org/organization...

On this Trans Day of Visibility and every day, we're unwavering in our commitment to fight for the future we deserve. This means being free to travel, access health care, take up space, play sports, and be our authentic selves without government interference — full stop.

RI House Committee on State Government and Elections is scheduled Tuesday to give first vetting to a perennial bill to reform the state Access to Public Records Act. New condition: “draft” label does not exempt record from release. By @nancyklavin.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/03/30/n...

401Gives has begun! So far this year, we've shown up at innumerable municipal meetings, monitored dozens of bills at the State House, and appeared in court in more than a dozen cases to protect your essential civil liberties. We cannot do this work without your support.

📍 downtown Providence

We have the right to record ICE agents, police, and other government officials at work in public. Read up on your rights and our tips to get ready for Saturday's No Kings protests. More info at aclu.org/kyr_record-

We were in court earlier today fighting the Trump administration's unlawful power grab of trying to access Rhode Island voters' personal data!

Judge won’t dismiss @riaclu.bsky.social lawsuit claiming Brown University is subject to public records law www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/25/m...

PRIVACY: We testified in support of RI bill H8077 yesterday, which would create reasonable safeguards around the use and installation of automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras. Now, we need your help to get this bill out of committee!

POLICE TRANSPARENCY: Remember the lawsuit filed on behalf of two journalists after Brown Uni. denied their open records requests for arrest reports? Today, a judge rejected the University’s request to have the case dismissed, allowing the case — and work towards police transparency — to continue.

Rhode Island bills H7305 & S2389 would bring our public records laws into the 21st century, creating long overdue improvements to government transparency at every level in the state — whether that's your local school committee, police departments, or the largest state agencies.

Before joining us in the streets to protest ICE's cruelty, know your rights. Join us March 18 at 8pm ET for a virtual training to learn more about your rights and protest safety.