Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

ACLU of Washington @acluwa.bsky.social · 22h

Find more ways to celebrate at aclu-wa.org

ACLU of Washington @acluwa.bsky.social · 22h

🌊Check out the Friends of Waterfront Park’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration at the Seattle Waterfront.

📖Read “Tulalip, from My Heart” by Harriette Shelton Dover to learn about Dover's life on the Tulalip Reservation.

1 6

ACLU of Washington @acluwa.bsky.social · 22h

🍂Stop by the Burke Museum in Seattle for KEXP's Indigenous Peoples’ Day broadcast. We'll be there with Know Your Rights materials and stickers!

🌲Join the Squaxin Island Tribe and the City of Olympia in Squaxin Park for the Olympia Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration.

1 2

ACLU of Washington @acluwa.bsky.social · 22h

Indigenous Peoples' Day is coming up in Washington! Here are a few ways to participate, learn more, and celebrate on Monday🧵

📸Photo by Elaine Thompson for the Associated Press
#IndigenousJustice #IndigenousPeoplesDay

Graphic with a tan background with text that reads: "Showing Up On Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Beyond: At the ACLU-WA, we are committed to showing up for Indigenous Justice and Native communities throughout the year. Whether that’s supporting Native communities to pass legislation challenging racist systems, sharing Know Your Rights resources at community events, or arguing in court to preserve tribal sovereignty. Indigenous Justice can take many forms, but it isn’t exclusive to advocacy!"

Graphic with a tan background with text that reads: Indigenous Justice takes many forms. Everyone can support Indigenous peoples in their everyday life. Here are a few examples: Attend Native-organized events; Buy from Native vendors; Seek out and support the work of Native artists, writers, and activists

1 14 28

ACLU of Washington @acluwa.bsky.social · 2d

Join us in protest on October 18. Find an event near you today.

When using this link, Indivisible will know you came from us; their privacy policy applies.

No Kings

As the president escalates his authoritarian power grab, the NO KINGS non-violent movement continues to rise stronger. We are united once again to remind the world: America has No Kings and the power belongs to the people.

www.nokings.org

2 5

ACLU of Washington @acluwa.bsky.social · 2d

The power of the people is stronger than the people in power. We reject any and all attempts to strip away our rights and dismantle our democracy.

Black graphic with orange and white text: We the people protest: escalating abuses of power, troops on our streets, targeting of immigrant communities, attacks on free speech, threats to our democracy. Saturday, October 18 in cities across the country

1 4 17

ACLU of Washington @acluwa.bsky.social · 2d

🔗For even more tips, check out our "Guide to School Board Advocacy in Washington," which includes a breakdown of how school boards work and how you can push for change.

https://www.aclu-wa.org/know-your-rights/guide-school-board-advocacy-washington/

Text read: "3. Think of strategies to influence board members. School board members are responsible for making decisions that are in the interest of the entire district and its budget.

Consider how the change your proposing would affect all students in the district. Talk to others to learn more about your board members’ views. Try to anticipate why school board members might oppose your position and think about how you’d respond."

Text reads: "Remember: school board members work for you! If you have never spoken at a school board meeting, go to one or two meetings just to observe. You can get a sense of the individual board members and watch how the board conducts its business. Find more tips in our Guide to School Board Advocacy at aclu-wa.org."

2

ACLU of Washington @acluwa.bsky.social · 2d

As a parent, you have a right to make your voice heard at school board meetings.

Here are three ways to prep for the next meeting.

Text reads: "2. Connect with other parents and families. Find out what others in your community think. Then, think about who your allies might be in seeking the change you want. You might ﬁnd support from existing parent groups, teachers, or community leaders. Whoever you decide to work with, make sure to talk about the problem you want to solve and possible solutions."

1 4 9

ACLU of Washington @acluwa.bsky.social · 3d

What can you do? Tell Congress to support library funding. The @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social has an easy template you can use.

Libraries are here for us. Let's show up for them.

Show Up for Our Libraries

Join us and Show Up #ForOurLibraries.

www.ala.org

4 5

ACLU of Washington @acluwa.bsky.social · 3d

While a new state law that directs money from court filings toward library services could help with the funding shortfall – it will take time. Reinstating federal funds could fill that gap and make a difference sooner.

1 1

ACLU of Washington @acluwa.bsky.social · 3d

These libraries are still running but visits are by appointment only, it is harder to get librarian help, and The Talking Book and Braille Library had to cancel multiple workshops.

This means Washingtonians are losing out on access to critical materials, tools, and resources.

1

ACLU of Washington @acluwa.bsky.social · 3d

Because of the Trump administration's decision to cut federal funding – coupled with limited state resources – the Washington State Library in Tumwater and the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library in Seattle were forced to pull back on services and close to public visits in July.

Navy blue background with a quote from ACLU-WA's Integrated Advocacy Director, Vanessa Torres Hernandez: "This shortsighted decision hurts public safety, by reducing the ability of incarcerated people to access information that supports learning, rehabilitation, and growth. It diminishes our economy and the academic prospects of young people, as well as seniors, in rural and tribal communities across the state."

1 1 1

ACLU of Washington @acluwa.bsky.social · 3d

Losing access to a library can be just as damaging as outright censorship🧵

Navy blue background with a quote from ACLU-WA's Integrated Advocacy Director, Vanessa Torres Hernandez: "Libraries are a critical institution for the health of a democratic society. They must be protected. Federal efforts to defund and dismantle the Washington State Library, amidst a significant state budget shortfall, have resulted in its closure to the public. threatening access to knowledge and educational materials for many who rely on its services."

1 8 12

ACLU of Washington @acluwa.bsky.social · 4d

Dinner, childcare, and translation will be provided.

RSVP and submit your questions at the link below.

The South End Speaks, Our Voices Our Vote: Candidate Forum on Safety, Immigration, and Surveillance

Date: Tuesday October 14th Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM Rainier Arts Center 3515 S Alaska St, Seattle, WA 98118 Join us! Come hear directly from the candidates for Seattle Mayor, City Council, and City Attorney at a forum centered on some of our community's most critical concerns. The questions will be sourced from our partners and community members. We'll be asking candidates tough questions on Safety, Immigration, and Surveillance to ensure they're ready to represent us. This event is a collaboration with a powerful group of local organizations, including Whose Streets? Our Streets!, ACLU of Washington, The Black Rose Collective, East African Community Services, Puget Sound Sage, Rainier Ave Committee, and Surge Reproductive Justice. Your voice, your vote, your future.

docs.google.com

2

ACLU of Washington @acluwa.bsky.social · 4d

📆Tuesday, October 14 | 6-9pm
📌Rainier Arts Center

Have questions for people running for Seattle Mayor, City Council, or City Attorney? Join Whose Streets Our Streets for a South End candidate forum!

1 1 5

ACLU of Washington @acluwa.bsky.social · 4d

Congress must act now and protect the right to learn.

Tell Congress: No book bans in military schools

Tell Congress: No book bans in military schools

Schools run by the Department of Defense on military bases have banned hundreds of books and altered curricula that the Trump administration doesn't agree with. Take action.

action.aclu.org

2

ACLU of Washington @acluwa.bsky.social · 4d

The Dept. of Defense is banning books, changing lesson plans, and canceling history month celebrations in schools on military bases to comply with President Trump's anti-DEI executive orders.

The Trump Administration is Banning Books on Military Bases. We Sued. | ACLU

Censorship in Defense Department K-12 schools violates the First Amendment.

www.aclu.org

1 6 8

Reposted by ACLU of Washington

ACLU @aclu.org · 5d

We were at the American Library Association Conference this summer talking with librarians about the importance of everyone having access to books that represent all kinds of different backgrounds and experiences.

Thank you to every librarian working to defend our right to read.

11 140 580

Reposted by ACLU of Washington

ACLU @aclu.org · 5d

There are steps everyone can take to help make our communities safer for trans people and all of us.

I asked Chase Strangio how to stand up for trans people. It's easier than you think. | Opinion

Trans attorney Chase Strangio has a simple message: It's time for cisgender people to stand up for transgender rights. Here's how.

www.usatoday.com

3 140 390

ACLU of Washington @acluwa.bsky.social · 5d

Preventing censorship will take all of us.

Learn about a recent law that passed to help our state curb the rise of book bans, and what you can do to protect your right to read and learn ⤵️

Book banning in Washington state: An FAQ - ACLU of Washington

Learn about book bans in Washington and what you can do to prevent them.

www.aclu-wa.org

4 6

ACLU of Washington @acluwa.bsky.social · 5d

Books are powerful tools that help us explore our identities and learn about new perspectives.
⁠
And we all have the right to read and learn, free from censorship. But attempts to ban books have increased across the country, including here in Washington.

1 4 7

ACLU of Washington @acluwa.bsky.social · 6d

📲Using ACLU-WA's School Board Advocacy toolkit to prepare for meetings

📚Joining your public library’s book review committee

Get started by checking out advice for advocating at your next school board meeting⬇️

Advocacy Tips to Change School Board Policies on Free Speech Issues - ACLU of Washington

Learn how to advocate with your school board around issues of free speech.

www.aclu-wa.org

1 2 2

ACLU of Washington @acluwa.bsky.social · 6d

Happy Banned Books Week, Washington! We all can protect the right to read and learn freely by:

🗣️Talking about book bans with friends and family

🗯️Sharing your thoughts at school board and city council meetings

1 6 11

Reposted by ACLU of Washington

ACLU @aclu.org · 6d

BREAKING: Late last night, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from deploying any out-of-state federalized National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon.

This is a win for the rule of law.

32 200 1.2K

Reposted by ACLU of Washington

ACLU of Northern California @aclu-norcal.bsky.social · 9d

A federal appeals court today upheld a block on Trump’s executive order that seeks to strip babies born in the United States of their U.S. citizenship. The Constitution is clear — if you are born in the United States, you’re a citizen. Another hard won victory for democracy!

2 21 52