American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Iowa

PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM SERVICES: EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON THEIR CIVIL LIBERTIES AND ADVOCATING ON THEIR BEHALF IS A YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITY. SPECIFIC ACTIONS TAKEN DURING THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2020 INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: PRESENTED INFORMATION TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE ON A VARIETY OF CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO VOTING RIGHTS, IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS AND TECHNOLOGY AND PRIVACY RIGHTS; TABLED AT JUNETEENTH EVENTS IN CEDAR RAPIDS, DES MOINES AND WATERLOO, WORLD REFUGEE DAY IN WEST DES MOINES, LATINO FESTIVALS IN DES MOINES AND COUNCIL BLUFFS AND THREE BACK TO SCHOOL FAIRS IN DES MOINES FOR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE PARENTS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS. ORGANIZED VOLUNTEERS TO PARTICIPATE IN CAPITAL CITY PRIDE IN DES MOINES AND TABLED AT SIX PRIDE EVENTS ACROSS IOWA; STAFF ORGANIZED, IN COORDINATION WITH THE IOWA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, "BANNED BOOKS WEEK" TRIVIA NIGHT

LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM SERVICES: ADVOCATED FOR VOTING ELIGIBILITY FOR IOWANS CONVICTED OF A FELONY VIA A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE IOWA CONSTITUTION; ADVOCATED FOR SIGNIFICANT SMART JUSTICE LEGISLATION, INCLUDING BILLS TO PREVENT RACIAL PROFILING AND SENTENCING REFORM; ADVOCATED FOR LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PREGNANT WORKERS; ADVOCATED FOR THE FIRST AMENDMENT BY SUPPORTING AN ANTI-SLAPP (STRATEGIC LAWSUIT AGAINST PUBLIC PARTICIPATION) BILL; ADVOCATED FOR LGBT RIGHTS BY OPPOSING THE REMOVAL OF "GENDER IDENTITY" FROM THE IOWA CIVIL RIGHTS ACT AND OPPOSING A DOZEN OTHER BILLS THAT WOULD TAKE AWAY RIGHTS FROM AND ALLOW DISCRIMINATION AGAINST LGBT IOWANS; OPPOSED AN AMENDMENT TO THE IOWA CONSTITUTION THAT WOULD ADD CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS TO THE IOWA CONSTITUTION; OPPOSED SEVERAL BILLS THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED IOWA LAW ENFORCEMENT TO VIEW POLICE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE AND OTHER DOCUMENTS BEFORE BEING INTERVIEWED ABOUT A COMPLAINT; SUPPORTED LEGISLATION TO UPDATE AND EXPAND IOWA'S MEDICAL CANNABIODIOL ACT; SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO UPDATE IOWA'S OPEN RECORD LAWS TO CLARIFY WHICH PEACE OFFICERS' INVESTIGATIVE RECORDS ARE OPEN RECORDS AND WHICH ARE CONFIDENTIAL.