Top news stories and must-read articles from the week.

Headlines

Congress renews warrantless spying

Bipartisan majorities in both the House and the Senate renewed Section 702 in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. This piece of the law allows the NSA to collect troves of sensitive data on Americans without a warrant. The ACLU is currently challenging this attack on our civil liberties in court.

THE ACLU’S TAKE

New fears of discrimination

This week the Trump Administration announced the creation of a federal Conscience and Religious Freedom Division of the Department of Health and Human Services. This change may allow for medical professionals to deny care to LGBTQ people based on personal moral objections. This new division could dangerously distort religious freedom and turn it into a tool for discrimination.

Transgender students vulnerable under Trump Administration

The Department of Education under Trump is failing to protect transgender students. Numerous transgender students have been barred from using the bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity. The administration should intervene to help these students, but has failed to do so.

THE ACLU’S TAKE

Did you make a New Year’s resolution this year? If you did, chances are you’re working to make something better. For the ACLU of Maine, that means working to make Maine a better place in 2018. It means more freedom, more justice and more equality for all people. Here are some of our resolutions:

• Protect voting rights from attacks by elected officials.
• Expand access to abortion care for all women.
• Speak out against racism and sexism wherever we see it.
• Watch more movies made by women and people of color.
• Make sure kids get the help and support they need, instead of getting locked up.
• Protect personal data privacy on the Internet.
• Show up for more of the amazing events planned by our partner organizations.
• Help ACLU of Maine members get involved in democracy by calling their elected officials, testifying at the legislature, and staying informed.

2018 also brings the next legislative session, and already we’re spending a lot of time in Augusta. We’d love to see you there. Visit our Action Center or follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get updates on the bills that matter to your civil rights and liberties.

Together, let’s make 2018 the year of freedom, justice and equality!

Happy New Year,
The ACLU of Maine team