News & Commentary

Our spring newsletter hit mailboxes in mid-May, sharing the latest on our work to protect and advance Nebraskans' civil rights and civil liberties. All of its content is available here or as a PDF download.

Ruby Méndez López is the Nebraska artist behind the powerful image accompanying our petition that more than 1,000 Nebraskans have now signed, calling for increased protection for essential workers. She graciously agreed to write about what inspired her art. 

In the last decade, a national conversation has been taking place regarding people being killed in police custody.  Many individuals and organizations, including Black Lives Matter, the ACLU, and others, have urged a hard look at policing and related policies nationwide.

Unprecedented; it's a word we've heard a lot lately. Major Nebraska events are being canceled or postponed. Schools and businesses are closing. Many of us who are fortunate enough to work from home are doing so.

Sunshine Week is a nationwide celebration of access to public information and what it means for our communities. Government works better when people know how decisions are made and tax dollars are spent.

Lobby days at the Unicameral bring about a variety of people with different political beliefs, backgrounds, and experiences. For many, it’s an opportunity to make their voices heard on issues that affect them; for some, it’s a change to fight for their rights and basic governmental protection against various forms of societal discrimination and oppression. I fell into the latter group as I made my way into the Nebraska State Capitol Building on Wednesday with around 40 other people to meet with our state senators. This particular lobby day was organized by OutNebraska, a Nebraska nonprofit dedicated to advocacy on LGBTQ+ issues and creating a community of civically engaged LGBTQ+ Nebraskans. 

Nebraskans agree that high school activities and athletic events should be a place where being a good sport is the common standard and where students of all backgrounds are treated with respect.

All Nebraska students should feel safe in their classrooms; but unfortunately, harassment and bullying continue to be some of the most pervasive, frightening, and potentially damaging threats that students face in our schools. It's time to update Nebraska's anti-bullying law. 

A new white paper published by the ACLU of Nebraska adds to existing concerns about Nebraska's suspect abortion "reversal" law based on results of a public records request.