Civil Liberties

Rhode Island Legal Services & ACLU File Court Brief Blasting State Education Policy Undermining Rights of English Language Learners

Rhode Island Legal Services and the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island have filed a detailed brief in R.I. Superior Court seeking to overturn a decision issued last year by the Council of Elementary and Secondary Education (“Council”) that the groups claim violate “the rights of English Learners throughout[Read More…]

by March 30, 2021

Who’s Telling The Truth? Why Does Cumberland School Superintendent Mitchell Insist On Mandatory RICAS Participation?

  Standardized testing, by its very nature, is controversial. Typical allegations include, but are not limited to: Institutional Racism … Wasted Efforts “Teaching To The Test” … Lost Classroom Time (a charge exacerbated during the pandemic) … The Actual Validity Of The Data. So why, in the face of all[Read More…]

by March 30, 2021

Cumberland Superintendent Drops The Hammer! You WILL Take RICAS!

    FLASH! We’ve Updated The Story! Parents! Have you received this Email?  We will be discussing the legality of this, and other RICAS related issues on The Coalition Talk Radio .. Know Your Rights & Stay Tuned! From: Cumberland School Department <no-reply@cumberlandschools.org> Date: 3/26/2021 4:03:49 PM Subject: Superintendent’s Communication[Read More…]

by March 29, 2021

Rhode Island Judge Refuses To Dismiss Lawsuit Challenging Archaic State Law That Deems Inmates Serving Life Sentences “Civilly Dead”

A federal judge today refused to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a 100-year-old statute that declares inmates serving life sentences at the ACI to be “dead in all respects” with respect to “all civil rights.” The lawsuit, filed two years ago by ACLU of Rhode Island cooperating attorneys[Read More…]

by March 29, 2021

Chas Calenda: The Right To Bear Arms-Young V. Hawaii A Conversation.

Flash! Attorney Chas Calenda joined The Coalition Talk Radio Tonite! to discuss 9th Circuit 2A Madness! Did Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha use Rhode Island Taxpayer resources to file a “Friend Of The Court Brief”? “Born and raised in Rhode Island, Charles “Chas” Calenda has always heard the call[Read More…]

by March 25, 2021

US Supreme Court To Hear Oral Arguments RE: RI Search/Seizure Case Caniglia V Strom RIACLU Amicus Brief Included

Tomorrow, March 24, 2021, at 10Am, the United States Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Caniglia v. Strom, a major 4th Amendment search & seizure case based in Rhode Island From the Rhode Island ACLU (1/25/21) “The case, dating back to 2015, involves Cranston resident Edward Caniglia, whose two[Read More…]

by March 23, 2021

Introducing The Rhode Island Yes We Cannabis Coalition!

From https://www.yeswecannabisri.com/vision: Our partners in the Yes We Cannabis – RI coalition believe Rhode Island must address the harmful legacy of cannabis prohibition and its racially-biased enforcement. Specifically, we urge state lawmakers to pass legislation that: Automatically expunges past cannabis convictions; Encourages people from disproportionately impacted communities to own and[Read More…]

by March 22, 2021

GROUPS URGE RI SENATE TO REJECT PROPOSAL THAT WOULD DETER PUBLIC TESTIMONY

  The League of Women Voters RI, Common Cause RI and the ACLU of RI have sent a letter to RI Senators expressing grave concerns over a proposed amendment to the 2021-2022 Senate rules that is scheduled for a floor vote on Tuesday. The amendment would allow committee chairs, in their sole discretion, to[Read More…]

by March 19, 2021

FOWL PLAY: University of Pennsylvania Denies Hunting Club Official Recognition

During the COVID-19 pandemic, over 750 registered student groups at the University of Pennsylvania have been able to host virtual events. But Penn students interested in hunting, archery, and shooting are being denied permission for even virtual activities. Today, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education called on Penn to stop engaging[Read More…]

by March 17, 2021

Grieving Mother Of Inmate Who Died From As Yet Unexplained Circumstances Holds Press Conference

Marie Franco, Mother of  Jose Franco, held a press conference alongside her lawyer, David Strachman, and community organizers from the RI COVID Response: Decarcerate NOW Coalition, outside the Rhode Island ACI Medium Security Prison Marie’s son, Jose, unexpectedly passed in RIDOC custody nearly a month ago. He was found dead[Read More…]

by March 7, 2021