What is prison gerrymandering?

Population matters when it comes to redistricting, and that's why the way people are counted is so important. So how do prisons and the people in their custody impact the redistricting process? 

A graphic describing prison gerrymandering.

What I've learned from reading stories of abuses in Virginia prisons

The stories of incarcerated individuals make it clear that jails and prisons are incapable of acknowledging the civil and human rights of their populations because they are systematically designed not to see people.

a square yellow button with green text that says "I believe in building communities that support people, not prisons" against a background of cursive writing on parchment paper.

Remembering Charlottesville

On the anniversary of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, we reaffirm our commitment to the fight for racial justice.

By Mary Bauer

A graphic reading "We grieve alogn with my hometown of Charlottesville. Our hope is that our collective work to root out systemic racism will ensure that the horrors we saw on August 12, 2017, will never happen again in Virginia.

Pride: An Ongoing Journey

So, during Pride month, I hope you will join me in celebrating all we have accomplished and remembering the activists who got us here. We must also recognize that we are still fighting for the most basic of human rights for LGBTQ+ people.

graphic with Pride flag colors and a silhouette of a group of protesters in the center

Hazy about the new marijuana laws? Know your rights.

Before you bust out the weed thinking that marijuana is fully legal, you should know your rights. We’ve got a rundown of what you can – and can’t – do under Virginia’s new laws.

graphic with text: "hazy on what's legal? Know your rights" with a virginia map and a pot leaf in the background

Legal marijuana in Virginia is just the first step.

When the General Assembly approved the final amendments to the marijuana bills on Wednesday and put legalization over the finish line, we celebrated. But we are keenly aware of the faults in these bills and know that our work is far from over.

graphic that says "Virginia: First in the south to legalize marijuana."

This is America.

We condemn white supremacy, those who perpetrate it, and those who are complicit–including the outgoing president, who has consistently sought to undermine the will of the people and subvert the peaceful transfer of power.

black background with the text "this is america"

Virginia should legalize marijuana

This op-ed was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Dec. 19, 2020. Ashna Khanna is the ACLU-VA's legislative director. Chelsea Higgs Wise is the executive director of Marijuana Justice.

a black woman holding a cardboard sign that says "justice for black people!"

Giving Tuesday is about our collective power.

Giving Tuesday, the global day of giving, is an opportunity to deepen a culture of philanthropy in our communities. The spirit of Giving Tuesday goes beyond the number of donations made. It’s about each and every one of us chipping in and throwing our support behind a worthy cause. It’s an attitude, a resolution and a groundswell of hope that together, we will be able to go far and build a more equitable society for all.

By Phuong Tran

Black lives matter protesters