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Annual Report | 2018 – 2019
Together we are reimagining the promises of our Constitution–to grow and expand its protections to more people than ever before.
Dear friends,
Over the last three years, all of us have been working so hard to defend our country and the ideals embodied in our Constitution. It’s been relentless, and I know that we have all felt tired at times.
But, for the first time in a long time, here in Maine we find ourselves not simply defending against things getting worse, but proactively working to make things better. We live in a state that is seizing on opportunities to expand civil rights and civil liberties. We are working with leaders who are willing to challenge the status quo, who believe in protecting reproductive freedom, expanding health care, fighting racism, and stopping practices that harm LGBTQ people. It’s an amazing feeling!
Don’t get me wrong–we cannot let our guard down. There is still much work to be done at home and around the country. But even as we fight against these injustices, we will mark the victories that expand our rights further and further.
Together we are reimagining the promises of our Constitution–to grow and expand its protections to more people than ever before. Together we are daring to create a more perfect union. And together we are the ACLU of Maine. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Alison Beyea, Executive Director
We’re not waiting for change to happen tomorrow–we’re making it happen today.
In the courts, in the legislature, and on the streets.
Building a Maine for All. This year Maine became the first state in the nation to end the use of indigenous mascots in public schools. We were proud to call for this historic change alongside tribal leaders who have worked for years to stop this harmful practice. Research shows these mascots hurt indigenous kids and teach all students that racial stereotyping is okay. Now Maine is forging a bold new legacy, including statewide recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
And along with our partners, we secured the establishment of a Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial and Ethnic Populations in Maine. Though generations of civil rights activism have led to important gains, systemic racism in our schools, legal system and workforce persist, and the poverty rate for Black Mainers is dramatically higher than the national average. The Commission will be tasked with understanding how our existing state policies reinforce economic disparities.
Defending Principles We Believe In. We’re also fighting back against Border Patrol’s attempts to make immigrants feel unwelcome in Maine. As reports of racial profiling on our highways, at bus stations, and in stores escalate, we’ve filed two lawsuits to force Customs and Border Protection to operate more transparently. And we’re providing trainings so people know what their rights are should they find themselves–or witness someone else–being questioned.
Changing the System: Fighting for justice in the criminal legal system.
Stopping the Punishment of Addiction. This year our legal team fought to ensure Mainers with substance use disorder can continue taking their doctor-prescribed medicine while incarcerated. Most Maine jails have banned medication assisted treatment despite the medical consensus that it is a safe and effective way to keep people from relapsing. We argued this denial of care violated the 8th Amendment and the Americans with Disabilities Act. We won, and now our client–a mother from Madawaska–and others like her will get the care they need to stay on track.
Keeping People Out of Jail. In the legislature, we led the charge to create a court date reminder system. One in five pretrial detainees in Maine are in jail because of a missed court date–often because they simply forgot. Now, Maine will create a text message-based court reminder system–just like what you get from your dentist–to keep people out of jail and save Maine valuable resources.
Ending Youth Prisons. We’re also changing the conversation around juvenile justice in Maine. As our lawsuit on behalf of a young boy beaten by guards at Long Creek youth prison continues, we’ve also submitted briefs in a case challenging the state’s policy of locking up kids with severe mental illness. And we’re working with coalition partners and legislators to move Maine away from a prison model toward community-based care for our most vulnerable young people.
Leading the way
Together we’re carrying the beacon of civil rights & civil liberties in Maine and for the nation.
Rebooting Privacy in a Digital Age. In a landmark victory for privacy rights in the digital age, the ACLU of Maine helped pass two bills that give Mainers some of the strongest privacy protections in the country. The first law requires internet service providers (ISPs) that do business in Maine to get customers’ permission before selling their data to a third party. The second requires ISPs that receive state funding to treat all internet content equally, regardless of the source–meaning they can’t decide which sites and applications will load faster or slower. As technology develops and our digital footprint grows, so does the need for greater protections against government and corporate overreach. We stand ready.
The Future of Reproductive Healthcare is Equal. Access to safe and legal abortion care is critical to ensuring all people can make the best decisions for themselves and their families. As many states roll back access, Maine has become a beacon of hope. Lawsuits filed by the ACLU of Maine paved the way for two legislative victories: one new law ends the ban on qualified advanced clinicians providing abortion care, and the other requires most insurance–including MaineCare–to cover abortion. These huge advances ensure more Mainers have access to the care they need, regardless of where they live or how much money they make. No matter what happens at the federal level, we remain committed and ready to defend reproductive freedom for all.
By the Numbers
Together we will continue to fight for a future that is just, inclusive, equal, and welcoming.
We are profoundly grateful to all the members, coalition partners, community leaders, monthly supporters, leadership donors, volunteers, social media activists, and everyone in between whose generosity fuels our work to protect and advance civil liberties. Together we will continue to fight for a future that is just, inclusive, equal, and welcoming.
Volunteer calls during the legislative session
Visits to DAFORME.com microsite to learn about Maine's DA races
TV, radio, and print stories highlighting our positions
Volunteer hours
Your continued support ensures the ACLU of Maine remains a vibrant and vital organization for future generations.
Donations, Grants & Membership: $1,326,858
Bequests: $19,269
National ACLU: $300,000
Total: $1,646,127
Programs: $1,209,338
Management & General: $144,966
Fundraising: $161,648
Total Expenses: $1,515,952
Investment & Other Income: $81,855
Realized & Unrealized Gains: ($18,693)
Susan Bates, President
Jodi Nofsinger, Vice President
Christopher Branson, Treasurer
Nancy Fannon, Secretary & National Board Representative
Robert E. Talbot, Equity Officer
Sarah Bigney
Daniel N. Crewe
Sally Dobres
Joyce T. Gibson
Robert Kelley
Colleen Khoury
Doug Kimmel
M. Calien Lewis
Susan Peck
Lisa Sockabasin
Krystal Williams
Pablo Anaya, Major Gifts Officer
Beth Ansheles, Finance Director
Makena Bauss, Digital Media Strategist
Alison Beyea, Executive Director
Emma Bond, Staff Attorney
Rachel Healy, Communications Director
Zach Heiden, Legal Director
Michael Kebede, Policy Counsel
Ariel Kernis, Deputy Director
Emma Findlen LeBlanc, Senior Researcher
Laura Retherford, Director of Leadership Giving
Joelle Rutembesa, Finance & Development Associate
Margarita Salguero-Macklin, Office Manager
Dhivya Singaram, Engagement Coordinator
Meagan Sway, Policy Counsel
ACLU of Maine
PO Box 7860
Portland, ME 04112
(207) 774-5444
[email protected]
www.aclumaine.org
Dear friends,
Each of us has a different path that brought us to the ACLU. My own path started in the 1970s, as a young girl listening to my mother talk about her work at the national ACLU Women’s Rights Project.
I learned early that the promises of the Constitution were not applied equally to everyone. But I also learned that when people come together to fight for justice and equality, change can happen.
Together, we are daring to create a world where we are all free to dream and learn and act. Together, we will create a more perfect union.
And so it was that 50 years ago, a small group of dedicated people came together to form what would become the ACLU of Maine. They believed passionately in the promise of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They understood that America is a work in progress, and they believed that the work was worth doing.
50 years later, we believe it more than ever. It has been two years since President Trump was elected. In that time, you have spoken out and taken a stand more than ever before. And you have supported the ACLU.
Thank you. Because of your support, we have grown our staff and increased our impact. We are tackling more and accomplishing more, on every front – in the courtroom, in the legislature, and in the community. Whether you came to the ACLU 50 years ago or two, we are so glad you’re here.
Sincerely,
Alison Beyea, Executive Director
Families belong together. The ACLU has been fighting the Trump administration’s family separation policies since February, when we filed the first lawsuit challenging the practice of taking children away from their parents at the border. Our lawsuit – plus the thousands of people nationwide who took to the streets to protest – pressured the administration to stop separating families, and a federal judge ordered all the families reunited. Now we’re on the ground, working to find the parents who have been lost in the system so that they can be reunited with their children.
Together, we pressured the Trump administration to stop separating families. Now we’re working to reunite them.
Justice should be fair. Together, we put an end to the automatic suspension of driver’s licenses over missed fine payments. The ability to drive is crucial to nearly all of us, and taking away a license can hurt entire families. The new law goes into effect in December, and will have a profound impact on the people of Maine – helping people get back on track, instead of punishing them for being poor.
Kids don’t belong in prison. With your help, we’re calling on Maine to rethink its approach to juvenile justice. This spring, we filed a lawsuit on behalf of A.I., an 11-yearold boy with mental illness who was beaten up by two guards at the Long Creek youth prison. And 500 of you signed our petition asking Maine legislators to hold oversight hearings to find out what’s going wrong there. It worked – the legislature held the first hearing, an important first step toward holding the government accountable for protecting kids in state custody.
Together, we’re shining a light on everyone from district attorneys to immigration officials, to remind them that they work for us.
Vote for justice. District attorneys have incredible influence over the course of criminal justice policy. They play a huge role in determining who ends up behind bars – deciding who will be charged with a crime, which crimes to prosecute or drop, and who gets a second chance through diversion or treatment programs. This year we joined ACLU affiliates across the nation in drawing attention to the power of DAs and how they impact our communities. We launched DAforME.com, a powerful tool allowing you to compare DA candidates across the state. And we held a series of candidate forums to get voters the information they need before heading to the polls.
Keeping border patrol in check. Local police are increasingly being asked to act as federal immigration agents, and Mainers are reporting increased presence of border patrol agents on the highways and even at bus stations. The public has the right to know how immigration agents are operating in our state. That’s why we’re in the middle of two lawsuits to force Customs and Border Protection to turn over records about its local practices. And our amazing volunteers have been at bus stations in Portland and Bangor, handing out our “Know Your Rights” flyers and making sure passengers know their constitutional rights still apply during interactions with agents.
Living while Black. Rory Ferreira and his family were denied service at a grocery store after Rory asked to speak with a manager. When the family returned home, a police officer was there to serve Rory a “no trespass” order on behalf of the store. Calls to the police about people of color simply going about their lives happen far too often, so we joined Rory to take a stand against racism in our communities. We have called on the store to conduct racial bias training for all of its employees, and to stop calling the police on people who have done nothing wrong. And we’re calling on Maine police departments to stop issuing “no trespass” orders without first investigating whether they are necessary.
Together, we’re fighting to extend the promises of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to all Mainers.
Speaking truth to power. Karin Leuthy and Kelli Whitlock Burton wanted to share their concerns with Gov. LePage on Facebook, but had their comments deleted and were blocked from his official page. We took their case, arguing that free speech must be protected from government censorship on social media just as is it in any other public forum. The case is moving forward, after a federal judge rejected the governor’s request to throw it out in August.
Reproductive justice for all. Maine’s courageous abortion providers want to ensure all Maine women have access to abortion, regardless of how much money they make or where they live. On their behalf, we filed two lawsuits to expand abortion access in Maine. One will allow advanced-practice nurse practitioners to provide abortion care. The other will end the ban on insurance coverage of abortion for women who qualify for MaineCare.
“The folks at the ACLU have so often been the ones who have spoken out, taken a stand, and fought back against injustice. I’m proud that we’ve been able to do that together. I’m proud to be a part of it.”- Dan Crewe, board member and supporter
“The ACLU fights to defend our civil liberties and rights on all fronts. As an aspiring lawyer, I want to be in that fight for liberty and justice for all.” - Dhivya Singaram, volunteer
“At the ACLU, I put my passion for social justice and equality to work.” - Reggie Parson, legal intern
“I volunteer at the ACLU of Maine so that the dollars I donate to the ACLU go farther against the intrusion of government on our civil liberties.” - Sam Schwartz, volunteer
“Interning at the ACLU gave me a chance to see what practicing lawyers do in the civil rights field, and to feel like I was part of moving these important issues forward.” - Allison Kuhns, legal intern
Join the more than 10,000 people across Maine who are taking a stand against threats to our fundamental freedoms. Give to the ACLU of Maine.
ACLU of Maine 121 Middle St. Suite 200 Portland, ME 04101
Include the ACLU in your will now, and we’ll receive an immediate cash match. Contact [email protected] for more information.
Donations, Grants & Membership: $809,931
Bequests: $255,344
National ACLU: $296,096
Total: $1,361,371
Programs: $846,493
Management & General: $168,444
Fundraising: $201,313
Total Expenses: $1,216,250
Investment & Other Income: $43,463
Realized & Unrealized Gains: $86,698
Susan Bates - President
Jodi Nofsinger - Vice President
Chris Branson - Treasurer
Nancy Fannon - Secretary, National Board Rep.
Robert E. Talbot - Equity Officer
Molly Butler Bailey
Sarah Bigney
Daniel N. Crewe
Sally Dobres
Joyce T. Gibson
Alli Harper
Robert Kelley
Colleen Khoury
Doug Kimmel
M. Calien Lewis
Susan Peck
Oamshri Amarasingham - Advocacy Director
Beth Ansheles - Finance Director
Alison Beyea - Executive Director
Emma Bond - Staff Attorney
Rachel Healy - Communications Director
Zachary Heiden - Legal Director
Ariel Kernis - Deputy Director
Amy Kuhn - Community Engagement Manager
Emma Findlen LeBlanc - Senior Researcher
Laura Retherford - Director of Leadership Gifts
Joelle Rutembesa - Administrative Associate
Margarita Salguero-Macklin - Office Manager
Meagan Sway - Policy Counsel
ACLU of Maine Foundation
121 Middle St. Suite 200
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-5444
[email protected]
www.aclumaine.org
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