The ACLU of Georgia has an ambitious agenda to protect and advance the civil liberties and rights of all Georgians during the 2023 Legislative Session. There will be much at stake under the Gold Dome and we will be ready when the session opens Monday, January 9.
Meet Our Team
Bruce welcomes back Fallon McClure to the ACLU of Georgia as the deputy director of policy and advocacy. Together they will lead an expanded Policy and Advocacy team that brings a wealth of experience to our work.
- Policy Counsel Ben Lynde has deep knowledge and experience in privacy and technology, and criminal justice reform.
- Policy Advocate Sarah Hunt-Blackwell is our First Amendment expert.
- Community Engagement Manager Cherrell Brown is whom you should talk to about getting involved.
- Administrative Assistant Tiera Deering will help pull everything together and keep the department functioning.
Our Priorities for the Session
Privacy: The ACLU of Georgia will be a key challenger in fighting back on the normalization of mass surveillance, particularly advocating against the negative implications of such technology on communities of color.
Voter Rights: We will be relentless in the fight against voter suppression, and stand ready to challenge bills like those introduced last year to chill the vote. We were successful in fighting against nearly every provision of that bill, and look forward to doing the same if introduced again.
Reproductive Rights: Our attorneys will stand up for Georgian’s bodily autonomy and reproductive rights, while our legal team continues to litigate challenges to the state’s abortion ban.
Criminal Legal Reform: We will advocate for the legislature to reaffirm the bipartisan, evidence based reforms to the criminal legal system that were championed before Governor Deal took office. Our policy and advocacy team will work with lawmakers to stop any legislation that takes Georgia back to policies that drive mass incarceration and inequitable treatment of communities of color.
First Amendment: We won’t back down from defending First Amendment rights of students, teachers and parents in our schools. With restrictive laws such as HB 1084 and SB 226, we will advocate for LGBTQ+ students, fact-based curricula with historical truth, and school environments that invite the spectrum of human experiences. Our First Amendment policy advocate will be a champion for the right to free expression and safe protest for all Georgians.
How to get Involved
Here’s how you can follow our work during the 2023 session and take action to expand civil rights and liberties in Georgia:
- Legislative Preview: Join us on Wednesday, January 11 at 7 pm ET for a virtual briefing on our 2023 legislative priorities. We will provide insight into the issues and bills we will prioritize this year. Registration for the Zoom event is required.
- Legal Observer Training: Sign up for our first legal observer training for the season, Thursday, January 12 at 7 pm ET.
- Pledge to Take Action: Sign up so that we can contact you to participate in actions on important legislation.
Visit www.acluga.org to learn all about the legislative process, and track our priority bills. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay on top of breaking legislative news and know when to take action.
