DAVID: WE THE PEOPLE, SHOWED FOR THE ELECTION. ACLU.

 

David –

Unpacking the full results of last night's elections will still take some time, but one thing is clear: Historic victories were gained across our most fundamental civil liberties.

At the time of writing this email, the final results of the Senate, the House, and other state races have still not officially been called. But while we wait for more on that front, I'd like to take this moment to go over what happened across the country so far – to celebrate the big victories, to understand our challenges, and to strategize on what comes next.

For reproductive freedom, voters in Michigan, Kentucky, Vermont, California, and across the country demonstrated they will show up to defend our ability to access essential abortion care in overwhelming numbers. We are especially proud of last night's citizen-initiated victory in Michigan where voters passed one of the most comprehensive constitutional amendments that will preserve the right to reproductive freedom for generations to come.

Well before Roe v. Wade was overturned, the ACLU and our affiliates played a role in supporting historic ballot measure campaigns this cycle, investing millions during this record-breaking year for abortion measures on the ballot.

This progress extended beyond abortion rights, too. The people also showed up to defend our essential right to vote. In Michigan and Connecticut, voters passed landmark ballot measures that will expand access to the ballot through early voting and ensure absentee voting for every election.

Up and down the ballot, voters in key states sent a clear message: The overwhelming majority of people in this country want to protect reproductive freedom and abortion access and they want to make it easier to vote, not harder.

Yesterday was a good night for the future of our democracy, David. But I want to be clear, here and now, that we are not stopping at these elections.

With the full force of our organization, we at the ACLU will continue to hold those in power accountable in the courts, in legislatures, on Capitol Hill, at the White House, and far beyond. We will carry this fight relentlessly forward until access to abortion is expanded, until our constitutional right to vote is protected, and until our democracy is truly a free, fair system for all people in this country.

We are only able to do this critical work because of the unparalleled strength of our ACLU community – dedicated people like you. So, I want to end this email by thanking you for always being with us in the fight, in moments of victory like last night – and during the most challenging times for civil liberties as well.

We're working every day toward a nation where everyone's fundamental rights are safe and equal. And that is a fight we can win when we push forward together.

For the people,

Anthony D. Romero
Pronouns: He, him, his
Executive Director, ACLU

P.S. If you can, please take this moment to breathe from what I know has been an exhausting election cycle. Our team will be back with more on the results of the elections and the work ahead of us. Thank you as always.