“People do not forfeit their First Amendment rights when they are hired by government institutions. Public employees are free to speak on matters of public concern, so long as they are speaking as private citizens..."

“The civil investigatory demand is targeted at Exodus specifically because of the population it serves. It is part of a continuing pattern by the Attorney General of sending unreasonable and improper requests to organizations across Indiana." - Ken Falk, ACLU of Indiana legal director

“People don’t lose their First Amendment rights just because they take a job with a public employer,” said Josh Bleisch, an attorney with the ACLU of Indiana. “You still have a right to comment on matters of public concern as a citizen."

Last week, two U.S. appeals court judges questioned whether Indiana's law punishing people who bans knowingly or intentionally aiding a minor in obtaining an abortion without parental consent infringed on the individual's First Amendment right.

Ten days ago, Loogootee held its third annual Pride, just days after a federal court struck down the city's special events ordinance as a violation of the First Amendment. 📷 by Jason Greene from Loogootee.

"The decision to defund this program is clearly based on the Pride Center’s support and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community, all of which is supported by the First Amendment," said ACLU of Indiana legal director Ken Falk.

"When states impose religious doctrine, beliefs, or practices on public schools, it marginalizes students who don’t share those beliefs and treats them as unwelcome. Students who do not feel safe and welcome in their school cannot focus on learning."

Join us for our first virtual Veterans Town Hall. We will discuss the critical role military servicemembers and their loved ones play in protecting civil rights and civil liberties in the U.S. and how we can build community to defend our country's values.

Now more than ever, it's important to engage with our community and learn about our democratic systems. Join us in Gary and Evansville for an evening of film and dialogue next week. Can't join us in person? Catch a virtual screening of both movies and voter registration training on the 16th.

Our September advocate, Randy Hudgins, is a lifelong Hoosier, a public school teacher, and a father sending his kids to public schools. He is an active advocate for Indiana's public education system and has been fighting policies harming it since 2022. Read more about his advocacy:

ACLU legal director Cecillia Wang: “For anyone perceived as Latino by an ICE agent, this means living in a fearful ‘papers please’ regime, with risks of violent ICE arrests and detention.”

This morning, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in the case against Indiana's 2017 abortion "aid-and-assist" law. The law prohibits health care providers from providing certain information about abortion to minors.

Gary has the state's second-largest black population and is part of Indiana's first congressional district, one of two seats the Trump administration wants to gerrymander. Redrawing district lines could erase the voices of Gary communities in Washington.

"The National Guard has a sacred mission. We are part of the communities that we serve. We are the neighbors who show up when the flood hits, when the storms tear through the towns and when our country is in crisis," Illinois National Guard member Demi Palecek said.

Join us for a virtual Know Your Rights training this Friday, September 5 to get prepared and learn how to keep yourself and your community safe.

President Trump deployed military troops and federal agents to DC and LA to respond to made-up emergencies, and is now threatening to do the same in other cities across the country.

Join us this month to celebrate Democracy and Constitution Day with an evening of film and dialogue that brings our Hoosier community together. Can't catch us in person? Catch a virtual screening of both films on September 16th.

Sen. Greg Walker, R-Columbus: “There is no justification for holding a special session to change our districts in mid-census.. indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/08/29/i...

Great news! Loogootee PrideFest will once again take place on the Public Square after a court found the city’s special events ordinance, which was passed in 2024 and amended in 2025, violates the First Amendment.

“It’s hard for me to overstate how good of people all of these workers are,” fourth-generation Brady Mouzin said.

Check out this opinion piece written by a medical student from Fort Wayne. We agree: abortion care should not be decided by politicians.

Regardless of your immigration status, you have guaranteed rights under the Constitution. Here are some rights you should be aware of as an immigrant or a bystander:

Indiana has some of the lowest voter turnout in the nation. Elected officials should be spending their time on increasing voter participation, not solving a problem that doesn't exist.

State legislatures and local governments around the nation need to enact strong, meaningful protections of our privacy and way of life against this kind of AI surveillance machinery. https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/flock-roundup

"After the state’s near-total [abortion] ban took effect in 2022, procedures were limited to hospitals under narrow circumstances. Planned Parenthood remains a safety-net provider..."

"I watched U.S. movies and TV dramas when I was a teenager, so I still have that hope that American dreams can become true," said a Purdue University student from China. "But I don't know how realistic it is."

The First Amendment protects freedom of the press. But the Trump administration is mounting an assault on the media that is unprecedented in recent history.

Children with complex medical needs deserve to live at home with their families, not be forced into institutions. We're grateful the courts have once again recognized that.

"This is ridiculous. People come here for a better life, and they start a better life. They work, they raise a family, they pay taxes, they get themselves completely immersed in our community, and they're good people."

Last week, Gov. Mike Braun and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced plans to use Indiana's Miami Correctional Facility, known for its numerous human rights violations, as an immigrant detention facility.

NEWS: We filed an appeal to the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in our lawsuit against SEA 202, Indiana’s so-called “intellectual diversity” law. The lawsuit, filed in September 2024, challenges the constitutionality of provisions of state law that require...

“The census isn’t just a head count. It is meant to reflect America as it is – not as some would prefer it to be — and determines how critical resources are allocated,” ACLU Voting Rights project director Sophia Lin Lakin said in a statement.

Statement from our executive director, Chris Daley, regarding reports that Miami Correctional Facility will be used for immigration detention:

"Sixty years ago, Americans built a pillar strong enough to support true democratic participation. They built it with sacrifice, cemented it with blood, and designed it to bear the weight of every citizen's rights.

"Arresting people outside of the courthouse proves that this isn’t about legal immigration. It’s even more concerning that her parents found out about her transfer to Louisiana from online records. It’s cruel." - State Representative Chris Campbell

Instead of investing in proven solutions, Trump is blaming individuals for systemic failures and doubling down on policies that punish people with nowhere else to go – all after signing a law that decimates Medicaid, the number one payer for addiction and mental health services. tinyurl.com/294yxsrx

Statement from our executive director, Chris Daley, on Governor Mike Braun's announcement regarding new 287(g) agreements with ICE.

Judy Heumann was instrumental in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which expanded non-discrimination protections for people with disabilities. This Disability Pride Month, we honor her legacy by continuing to advocate for equitable access to health care for all.

Indiana already ranks at the bottom of the barrel in voter turnout. Laws created in the name of protection against virtually nonexistent voter fraud often have disproportionate effects on communities like Gary. Lawmakers should focus on increasing voter turnout, not making voting more difficult.

Last month, 23% of the people ICE arrested in Indiana had no criminal charges (and no, simply being here undocumented is not a criminal offense). Nationwide, that number is even higher. We'll say it as many times as we need to: immigrants are a vital part of our communities and our state.

Indiana public school students: know your rights when you head back to school! 📚 🎒 ✏️ Get more information on each of these topics, plus book bans, religious freedom, and more: www.aclu-in.org/en/know-your...

The 2025 legislative session is over, but that doesn't mean the policy-making stops. Learn more about contacting your legislators during the interim with our blog: www.aclu-in.org/en/news/time...

Marijuana is fully legal in roughly half of the United States. And cannabis for medicinal use has been approved in 46 states (hint: that's nearly all of them 👀). It is long past time for Indiana to legalize marijuana.

It's not just the execution method that makes the death penalty so costly. Prosecution and incarceration are also far more expensive in death penalty cases. Capital punishment is barbaric, no matter how it is carried out. The solution is simple: abolish the death penalty in Indiana.

Stevie Wonder is a renowned musician and vocal advocate for those with disabilities. He raises funds and awareness for children with disabilities, pushing for greater accessibility for people who are blind and visually impaired. This Disability Pride Month, we’re celebrating Stevie’s art and impact.

As our southern neighbors have already experienced, criminalizing homelessness only worsens the problem by making it more difficult to provide vital services.

The government is using $450 million of our tax dollars a year to fund an inhumane immigration detention facility called “Alligator Alcatraz.” Tell Congress: Demand access and shut it down.

Indiana's future depends on everyone having the opportunity to learn and thrive. Eliminating DEI programs will only harm Hoosiers. Gov. Braun's attacks on these programs have worsened our healthcare systems, dampened innovation, and undermined programs vital to our state's well-being.

This weekend, Hoosiers gathered at the Statehouse to make one message clear: Indiana stands with transgender youth. This comes just weeks after the Supreme Court's decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti to uphold state bans on gender-affirming care for transgender youth.

Transgender people in Indiana and across the country are facing relentless attacks. But this weekend, some state lawmakers voiced their support for trans youth. www.wboi.org/2025-07-13/b...