Immigrant Rights in South Carolina and Across the Nation
 The ACLU is fighting back against anti-immigrant laws inspired by Arizona’s notorious SB 1070 through impact litigation and legislative advocacy. Arizona’s enactment of SB 1070 set off a number of copycat attempts in states across the country in 2011. There are now five states — Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina and Utah — that have passed Arizona copycat laws.
We Are United / Estamos Unidos
On the 25th of April, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on Arizona’s SB 1070. But we aren’t waiting for their decision in June. We will join together now to speak up for the rights of all.
"Estamos Unidos" – which means “We are United” – is a campaign organized by the American Civil Liberties Union with our allies. The ACLU and partners have filed lawsuits challenging anti-immigrant laws in every state where they have passed (Arizona, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Utah, and Indiana) and stopped similar laws in 14 other states. The ACLU is also calling on President Obama to stop federal programs that further involve local police and sheriffs in immigration enforcement.
ACLU and Civil Rights Coalition File Lawsuit Against South Carolina's Anti-Immigrant Law
Federal Court Blocks Major Parts of South Carolina's Anti-Immigrant Law/ Decision Is a Setback to National Effort to Pass Anti-Immigrant Laws
December 22. A federal district court today blocked major parts of South Carolina’s anti-immigrant law from going into effect January 1 after ACLU and partners in a civil rights coalition recently argued the law is unconstitutional, interferes with federal laws and would cause great harm if implemented.
Press Release: Federal Court Blocks Major Parts of South Carolina Anti-Immigrant Law >>
The Decision >>
What You Need to Know About South Carolina's Version of the Arizona Law (SB 20) >>
Lo que necesita saber acerca de la ley SB 20 de Carolina del Sur >>
Voter Suppression in South Carolina
 The right to vote is what makes a country a true democracy, and it is the most basic right we share as Americans. Yet throughout our history, we have excluded indispensable voices from participating in our democracy. African-Americans, women and young people fought and risked their lives to gain the right to vote.
Despite the lobbying efforts against the legislation mounted by our office, the SC legislature passed restrictive Voter ID legislation. The Voting Rights Act required that SC seek preclearance by the Department of Justice before the legislation could go into effect. With the National Voting Rights Project, we submitted comments to the DOJ documenting the effect of the legislation on minority voters.
DOJ denied preclearance, referencing our comment letters in its decision. SC has petitioned the US District Court of DC requesting its independent determination that the SC Voter ID legislation complies with the requirements of the Voting Rights Act. Read the DOJ's letter >>
On behalf of several voters and organizations that advocate for voters, we filed a motion to intervene, which was granted. South Carolina argued that the Court must make a decision by August 1, 2012 if SC is to have time to implement Voter ID by the November 2012 elections.
The Department of Justice and the ACLU and other intervenors argued that such a truncated schedule would jeopardize the fairness of the litigation. We await the Court’s ruling on the schedule.
If you are concerned that you or someone you know will be unable to vote because of Voter ID requirements, please complete and return our SCVOTER ID QUESTIONNAIRE
More information on SC's Voter Photo ID Law >>
Public Schools Are Not Sunday Schools
Chesterfield County School District Agrees to Stop Proselytizing Students
After viewing a YouTube video chronicling a middle school assembly in September 2011 which featured a Christian rock band, an evangelical preacher, and a call for the students to sign “commitment cards” dedicating their lives to Jesus, we submitted a FOIA to the school district which exposed a culture of religiosity in the public schools.
When our request for remedial action fell on deaf ears, we filed suit in the Florence Federal District Court. After intense negotiations, the School Board agreed to a consent decree and order that will put in place a mechanism assuring separation of church and state in its schools. We are now monitoring that consent order. Consent and Decree order signed by Chesterfield County School Board.
South Carolina Jail Agrees to End Unconstitutional Censorship
In January, we settled the federal lawsuit challenging the restriction of inmate access to all publications by mail with the issuance of a permanent injunction which establishes constitutionally valid jail policies. We worked with the ACLU National Prison Project in this litigation. The Department of Justice also intervened in the case. Currently we are monitoring compliance with the consent order.
Don't Filter Me!
ACLU Demands Schools Stop Unconstitutional Web Filtering of LGBT Content
Read more >> |
