News & Commentary

The ACLU of Virginia recently sent the following letters to school divisions regarding important rights issues affecting students. -- Equality for LGBT Students:On October 8, 2015, the ACLU of Virginia sent a letter to all Virginia public school superintendents to raise awareness and bring attention to reports of harassment against students in Virginia schools who are, or are perceived to be, lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT).  In the letter, we remind superintendents of the district's legal responsibility to investigate every alleged case of bullying and to take appropriate actions to prevent bullying. -- Challenging Sex Discrimination in Schools:The ACLU of Virginia on October 13, 2015, sent a letter to the Chesterfield County School Board urging the school board to revise its dress code policy, which has ambiguous and vague language, and is administered in a way that disproportionately targets female students for violations. -- Free Expression in Schools:The ACLU of Virginia on October 13, 2015, sent a letter to Christiansburg High School regarding its prohibition on confederate flag emblems in the parking lot and on student clothing.  We asked administrators for the rationale for their policies and urged them to review those policies to ensure that they do not infringe on students' rights to free expression.

 

Virginia is nearing its first execution in three years. On Oct. 1, the Commonwealth is scheduled to execute Alfredo Prieto. If the execution of Mr. Prieto goes ahead as scheduled, the Commonwealth will show that the machinery of death trumps government transparency, accountability, and the U.S. Constitution.

Every liberty remains a fight, every freedom a struggle. For students, understanding and embracing this struggle is crucial to preserving the victories of the past while continuing to win new freedoms and protections moving forward.