ACLU of the District of Columbia

Understanding your rights can help you stay calm and advocate for yourself if approached by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or police. 🧵

This #CommunitySafetyWeek, we reaffirm the fundamental principle that no one, including federal officers, are above the law.

But the truth is: a right you can’t enforce isn’t a real right. When federal agents violate people’s rights and are shielded from answering for it in court, it turns our freedoms into empty promises and leaves us all unprotected.

When federal agents are told they can act with impunity and violence, anyone’s rights can be violated, and that makes every community less safe. 🧵

Public safety means providing communities with the resources they need, when they need them. Flooding D.C. streets with more federal agents will only put our rights at risk, and erode trust between the public and law enforcement. nytimes.com/2026/05/15/us/…

Vicki Draves was forced to learn how to swim in segregated pools at 10 years old. She overcame poverty and racism and in 1948 became the first Asian-American to ever win a gold medal at the Olympics and the first woman to sweep diving events.

Every vote is a chance to protect and strengthen our democracy. Make sure you’re prepared to cast your vote this June with ACLU-D.C.’s Voter Hub: acludc.org/vote2026

Knowing who you vote for means understanding who will best fight for D.C.’s future, rights, and autonomy.

Democracy requires representation. D.C.’s Representative in Congress ( a non-voting delegate) plays a critical role in ensuring the voices of the 700,000 District residents are heard in the halls of Congress. That’s why the upcoming D.C. primary election matters so much. 🧵

At the end of the day, D.C. deserves the right to govern itself, just like any other city and state in the country. Join the fight to bring full democracy to the District: dcstatehoodnow.org

A disapproval resolution is one of the ways that Congress can interfere in D.C.’s local democracy by allowing them to overturn District laws before they can go into effect. Listen to ACLU-D.C. senior policy counsel Melissa Wasser break down the disapproval resolution process.

NEW: The American Civil Liberties Union of D.C. just announced the ratification of our first collective agreement! We thank ACLU-DC Staff United for working with us to formalize the rights and benefits that have long made ACLU-D.C. a great place to work. acludc.org/press-releases…

The ACLU-D.C. was founded in 1961 by a small group of volunteer lawyers committed to protecting civil rights and civil liberties in the nation’s capital area. Look back with us on defending democracy in the District for the past 65 years: acludc.org/65-years-of-de…

Read all of ACLU-D.C.’s recommendations for building safety through resources in the District: acludc.org/app/uploads/20…

Earlier this week, we sent a letter to all D.C. Councilmembers urging them to reject Mayor Muriel Bowser’s steep budget cuts to crucial social services and instead invest in programs that strengthen our D.C. community, and reduce racial and economic disparities.

Budgets are moral documents. That means a city’s budget should reflect the values of its citizens. 🧵

Get informed ahead of the June 16 D.C. primary election with our voter information hub: acludc.org/vote2026

Protecting democracy means making civil rights and liberties a priority when you cast your ballot this June.

Your vote will help shape the future of D.C. 🧵 The next D.C. Mayor will be making decisions that shape nearly every part of daily life in the District, from public safety and education to housing, healthcare, voting rights, and how civil rights protections are enforced.