Some MI law enforcement agencies have 287(g) agreements with ICE, giving these agencies some immigration enforcement duties. These agreements have a history of increasing racial profiling & undermining public safety. The ACLU of Michigan strongly opposes them. #immigrantrights

The ACLU of Michigan and Arab American Civil Rights League sued the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools District and DK’s teacher for violating her First Amendment Rights.

D.K., who is of Palestinian descent, is deeply disturbed by the thousands of killings in Gaza, and believes the deaths were financially supported, and either implicitly or expressly supported, by the U.S. government.

See Al Jazeera's story of D.K., a 14-year-old middle school student whose teacher repeatedly and publicly humiliated her for refusing to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

The ACLU of Michigan's Legislative Director, Kyle Zawacki, is back with another edition of the Lansing Lowdown! Though our legislators are on summer recess, Kyle shares how you can still keep track of what they're doing so you can hold them accountable because they work for you.

“While this milestone is not all the justice our community deserves, it is a huge achievement." -.Pastor Allen Overton, Concerned Pastors for Social Action.

We appreciate the kind notes that our staff and volunteers received from people who attended Michigan Pride events. We are proud to be part of Pride and fighting for and with so many incredible LGBTQ+ folx. We will never stop working to ensure everyone’s rights are protected.

"We won’t ever stop trying to create an America that accepts our trans siblings for who they really are – our fellow human beings only seeking their chance to pursue their own happiness in peace." - Julia Pulver, RN.

“The right to freely speak — or not speak — is a form of protest that is fundamental to a well-functioning democracy — even when its exercise creates controversy or makes others uncomfortable,” Bonsitu Kitaba, ACLU-MI Interim Legal Director.

“This day would not have come without the heroic efforts of the people in Flint who have fought valiantly for more than ten years to ensure the city fulfilled its duty to replace these dangerous lead pipes." - Bonsitu Kitaba, Interim Legal Director.

Elliot Rattner describes his experience in the military and the challenges of growing up as a trans person who was left to travel a rocky path toward self-discovery in a Q&A he did with the ACLU of Michigan as part of our Pride Month celebration:

“One of the biggest concerns for us is that lack of transparency and accountability. It’s the lack of knowing what’s going on behind closed doors that we’re afraid of.” Liz Balck, ACLU-MI Policy Strategist.

“What we’re seeing is a systemic backlash. These are not isolated bills—they’re part of a national strategy to roll back queer rights, often under the guise of protecting children.” Jay Kaplan, LGBTQ+ Rights Project Staff Attorney.

As Pride Month comes to an end, we must remember the words of Jay Kaplan, staff attorney for The Nancy Katz & Margo Dichtelmiller LGBTQ+ Project at ACLU-MI: we cannot let trans rights be sacrificed in the fight for the broader LGBTQ+ community. Trans people will not be erased!

That teacher most definitely should have known it is every student’s right in this country to not stand for the Pledge of Allegiance regardless of your personal views.”.

metro Detroit, that she would add insult to injury and call the student out for simply exercising her constitutional right not to partake in the Pledge of Allegiance as a sign of protest.

“It is disturbing that a teacher who is trusted to teach our children would succumb to such insensitivities to one of her students knowing that the student is of Arab Palestinian descent, and knowing of the many deaths overseas in Gaza of family members of Palestinians living in.

Attorney Nabih Ayad, of the Arab American Civil Rights League, said this about the case:.

It is tragic that, while we always hope our schools will encourage young people to be independent, critical thinkers, D.K.’s teacher and the school district failed her not only by violating her First Amendment rights, but also by humiliating her for daring to exercise them.”.

conscience, and her heart.