ACLU of Mississippi
Because Freedom Can't Protect Itself
Massive Human Rights Violations at Mississippi Prison
By Gabriel Eber, ACLU National Prison Project & Margaret Winter, ACLU National Prison Project
East Mississippi Correctional Facility is hyper-violent, grotesquely filthy and dangerous. Patients with severe psychiatric disabilities go without basic mental health care. Many prisoners attempt suicide. This video is the story of a young man who succeeded.
EMCF is a cesspool. Prisoners are underfed and often held in rat-infested cells without working toilets or lights. The prison is dangerously understaffed, and prisoners routinely set fires to attract the attention of officers to respond to emergencies. Without sufficient staff to protect prisoners, rapes, beatings, and stabbings are rampant. Read More Reprinted from ACLU Blog
Breaking News: Diamondhead POA Agrees to Injunction- Diamondhead residents able to fully engage in political process.
ACLU OF MISSISSIPPI RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT SUPPRESSION OF POLITICAL SPEECH IN DIAMONDHEAD
DIAMONDHEAD, MISS. -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi sent an open letter to the Diamondhead Property Owners Association (POA) on Monday on behalf of several residents of the City of Diamondhead who have complained that the POA's rules, regulations, and covenants do not permit them to display political yard signs or engage in door-to-door campaigning. The City of Diamondhead is in the midst of its first municipal elections since incorporation in 2012.
In the open letter, the ACLU called on the POA to assure residents that it would refrain from enforcing its covenants, rules, and regulations that impermissibly violate its members' First Amendment rights. Read More
BREAKING NEWS: JUSTICES REFUSE ALABAMA'S IMMIGRATION LAW APPEAL
(Reuters) - The Supreme Court on Monday rebuffed the state of Alabama, and gave a win to the Obama administration, by declining to review a lower court ruling that had blocked a controversial part of the state's tough immigration law. Read the full story on Rueters.
"Gang of 8" Immigration Bill Important First Step, Needs Improvement
JACKSON, MS – "The immigration reform bill proposed by the so-called 'Gang of 8' has the potential to be a historic advance for the civil rights and liberties of immigrants and all Americans," said Amelia McGowan, Staff Attorney of the ACLU of Mississippi. "The bill would allow millions of immigrants who contribute immeasurably to the vitality of this country to step forward on the road to citizenship." Mississippi is home to over 61,000 immigrants, according to U.S. Census Bureau data from 2010. Read More
ACLU-MS Applauds Federal Court Decision Defending Reproductive Justice For Mississippi's Women
Jackson, MS – April 16, The ACLU-MS, a non-profit organization that defends the Constitution and extends liberty to all persons applauds the decision by United States District Judge Daniel Jordan III to uphold reproductive justice for Mississippi women.
U.S. District Judge Jordan today blocked enforcement of a law that could have closed the doors of the only abortion clinic in Mississippi. The law imposes medically unjustified regulations that require all doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at local hospitals. The Admitting Privileges portion of the law was politically motivated and designed to make it impossible for women to obtain the care they need in Mississippi. If not for District Judge Jordan's decision, women of Mississippi would have most certainly been deprived their Constitutional Rights.
“Today’s court decision should serve as a reminder to extremist politicians that the Constitution and the rights and protections therein are available to all, including women and their right to private decision-making,” said Jennifer Riley-Collins, Executive Director of ACLU-MS. “Unfortunately, we are seeing politicians across the country attempting to push through similarly drastic measures. ACLU-MS will remain vigilant in its support of reproductive justice in Mississippi." Download the decision
ACLU-MS Announces New Executive Director
Jackson, MS – April 8, 2013: The ACLU-MS, a non-profit organization that defends the Constitutinal rights and extends liberty to all persons announced the appointment of its new Executive Director, Jennifer A. Riley-Collins. Ms. Riley-Collins, a native Mississippian, is an attorney with a demonstrated commitment to social justice and equality. She brings 14 years of legal experience, along with more than 25 years of leadership and organizational management both as an attorney and a military officer. Read more
From Our Blog
- Reality Check 11/11/11
6th Annual Mississippi Youth Hip Hop Summit & 4th Annual Parent/Advocate Conference: [Make the Beat. Take Action]
Have you registered for the 6th Annual MS Youth Hip Hop Summit and 4th Annual Parent/Advocate Conference yet?!
Registration is filling up fast and a waitlist will form soon, so REGISTER TODAY! You don't want to miss out on one of the greatest, most rewarding events of the summer!
July 20-21 at Millsaps College in Jackson Get More Information and Download the Flyer
Summit and PA Conference Volunteer Interest Meeting
Date: Tues., June 11th @ 5:30p
Location: Eudora Welty Library, 300 N. State St., Jackson, MS
*Volunteers must be 19 years or older and have no relationship with youth at the Summit.
Volunteer Sign Up Required in advance of the Summit.
RSVP for the Volunteer Interest Meeting
The ACLU has more than 100 national and affiliate staff attorneys, who collaborate with more than 2,000 volunteer attorneys to handle more than 6,000 cases annually - making the ACLU, in effect, the largest public interest firm in the nation. The ACLU appears before the U.S. Supreme Court more than any other organization except the U.S. Department of Justice. Download your copy of the ACLU's Hundred Greatest Hits (611k PDF) and read about the landmark Supreme Court decisions in which the ACLU played a major role, either as direct counsel or as friend-of-the-court.
