The Fight for Civil Liberties Does NOT End With Legislative Session

Document Date: April 22, 2025

Alina Matejkowski

Alina Matejkowski

Digital Communications Specialist

she/her/hers

While the 2025 Kansas Legislative Session has officially come to an end, we know that the fight to protect civil liberties in Kansas is not over. President Trump has repeatedly pledged to pursue an agenda of extreme attacks on our constitutional rights, targeting democracy, immigrants, reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ equality, and anyone he perceived as a political opponent — and now his administration is carrying that agenda out.

Many of us are feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what to do right now — and understandably so. But we can all do one thing today, together. Take action to build local power through a Firewall for Freedom on the state level.

We have three core strategies for building resilience against fascism and anti-civil liberties policies in the Free State:

1. WIN PROACTIVE VICTORIES FOR VOTING RIGHTS AND REFORM OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN KEY CITIES AND COUNTIES THAT ARE SUPPORTIVE OF CIVIL LIBERTIES.

Despite the pause on our policy channels for legislative advocacy, there is still ample opportunity to take action to defend civil liberties in Kansas. Learn more about our multiple ongoing fights aimed at expanding voting rights and reforming our broken criminal legal system:

2. MOBILIZE THE MASS MOVEMENT OF KANSANS WHO OPPOSE EXTREMISM TO BLOCK STATE LEGISLATIVE ATTACKS ON OUR RIGHTS AND OUR DEMOCRACY.

Find your political home by joining our beehive volunteer program where we mobilize Kansans across the state to tap into the power of their community. We believe, in order to make a concrete impact in our communities for voting rights and criminal legal reform, we must mobilize thousands of Kansans and invite them into the movement. The Beehive is the how. Visit our Take Action page and click the Take Action link to sign up TODAY!

3. USE LEGAL ADVOCACY TO RESIST TRUMP AND KOBACH’S UNCONSTITUTIONAL POLICIES IN KANSAS.

In the first Trump administration, the ACLU filed 250 lawsuits against anti-civil liberties practices. We’re already on our way this second time around, with new lawsuits being filed constantly in response to the onslaught of attacks against our civil rights. You can stay up to date with our ongoing lawsuits against anti-civil liberties attacks in the state by visiting our Cases page.

While our legislative channels for advocacy are on pause for now, there is still the opportunity and necessity for preemptive defense building. By developing a strong firewall for freedom in our state, we will both respond to this moment in our nation’s history and create the conditions for a freer and more just Kansas.