HARTFORD – Civil rights and civil liberties advocates today launched the ACLU of Connecticut Rise PAC, a nonpartisan political action committee that will defend and expand civil rights and liberties by building the necessary relationships, public awareness, public narratives, and pressure felt by politicians to build the political power of people directly impacted by civil rights and civil liberties issues. During a press conference in Hartford, advocates announced that the PAC’s first actions will include: surveying gubernatorial and Secretary of the State candidates to determine if they will commit to equity policies that reduce systemic racism against Black and Latinx people; and supporting the early voting ballot question.
“On the campaign trail, politicians make promises and forge political platforms that have the potential to improve or harm people’s lives for years. At the ballot box, voters have the opportunity to set mandates for our future. The ACLU of Connecticut Rise PAC is a new, unique tool to expand and defend civil rights and liberties. Our work will enable people directly impacted by civil rights and liberties issues to get the policy commitments necessary to hold currently and would-be elected officials accountable. From the enormous threat of politicians’ attempts to revert back to racist 1990s-era policies that over-police and under-protect Black and Latinx people, to the rare opportunity for voters to approve the early voting ballot amendment this year, Connecticut voters will be making critical decisions at the ballot box in 2022. Civil rights and civil liberties are absolutely on the ballot this year, and none of us can afford to sit on the sidelines,” said David McGuire, ACLU of Connecticut Rise PAC chairperson.
“The people most affected by civil rights issues are the people closest to solutions but often furthest from the power on the campaign trail. Politicians aren’t prioritizing or listening to people most affected by civil rights and liberties issues, especially Black and Latinx people. The ACLU of Connecticut Rise PAC is here to change that, and politicians can no longer afford to ignore us. On our first day of existence, we’re asking candidates for Secretary of the State to commit, if elected, to challenging Connecticut’s long history of racist barriers to the ballot box. We’re asking gubernatorial candidates to commit to real community health and safety by spending less on prisons and policing to instead invest in programs and services that help people, especially Black and Latinx people most harmed by the racist systems of policing and incarceration. And we’re asking all voters in Connecticut to support racial justice by supporting the early voting question on the ballot,” said Claudine Constant, ACLU of Connecticut Rise PAC secretary.
Ahead of the 2022 election, the ACLU of Connecticut Rise PAC will conduct voter education and issue advocacy around the contests for Secretary of the State and Governor and the amendment to support early voting. In addition to seeking to educate voters about Secretary of the State and gubernatorial candidates’ views on racial justice issues, the ACLU of Connecticut Rise PAC will be advocating for voters to support the early voting ballot question.
The ACLU of Connecticut Rise PAC will not be endorsing or opposing any candidates for office or political party platforms and will not be providing financial or in-kind contributions to political candidates, political parties, or other PACs. The ACLU of Connecticut has always been composed of two separate sister organizations: the ACLU of Connecticut, a 501c4 organization which does legislative and organizing advocacy work; and the ACLU Foundation of Connecticut, a 501c3 which does litigation and public education work. With the formation of the ACLU of Connecticut Rise PAC, the ACLU of Connecticut adds a third, independent organization registered under state law as an ongoing independent expenditure committee and federal law as a 527e1 organization.
Learn more about the ACLU of Connecticut Rise PAC.
For copies of the surveys sent to gubernatorial candidates.
For copies of the surveys sent to Secretary of the State candidates.
Paid for by the ACLU of Connecticut Rise PAC. This message was made independent of any candidate or political party. Additional information regarding the ACLU of Connecticut Rise PAC can be found on the SEEC website. Top contributors: American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, Inc.
