The Purple State Report

On this episode John sits down with State Representative Joe Salazar a sponsor of the Right to Rest Act, a bill that pushes back on the criminalization of homelessness. Also, Staff Attorney Arash Jahanian brings us the story of Audemio Orozco-Ramirez, an immigrant facing deportation, and others like him who are being targeted by Trump’s cruel deportation agenda. Read “ICE’s modern-day reign of terror”: http://www.coloradoindependent.com/168497/guest-post-ices-modern-day-reign-of-terror Call to Action: To participate in Lobby Day go to: https://action.aclu.org/secure/co_LobbyDay2018 For more info on the DACA Phone Bank go to: https://go.peoplepower.org/event/action/12524?source=homepage&akid=

This week marked the second annual Women’s March and the 45th anniversary of Roe V. Wade. The ACLU of Colorado invited four women to discuss the state of reproductive rights and reproductive justice in the age of Trump. Also, ACLU of Colorado Public Policy Director Denise Maes discusses three bills in the Colorado legislature that threaten reproductive healthcare. 
Call to Action: Take 60 seconds and call your Senator to demand a #DreamActNow ⟶ https://www.aclu.org/DreamActTW-Call  For more information on COLOR go to: http://www.colorlatina.org/ For details on Lobby Day or Women and Family Wednesdays contact Delana Maynes at DMaynes@aclu-co.org

On today’s episode, today is the first day of the Colorado state legislative session. The ACLU is always extremely active at the legislature and has some big plans for 2018. John sits down with Denise Maes, ACLU of Colorado Public Policy Director, to preview this year’s top priorities. Also, a news update from ACLU of Colorado staff attorney Arash Jahanian on the recent death of an Iranian man who was being held in custody at the Aurora Immigration Detention Center. 
Call to Action: Make a call to prevent the deportation of 800,000 Dreamers and their families. http://bit.ly/dreamactnow18 For more info on our January 17th phone bank go to: http://bit.ly/0117phonebank   For related content from this episode visit our website at: aclu-co.org

On today’s episode, we go back to an interview with Alejandra and ACLU clients Dave Mullins and Charlie Craig, the Colorado couple who were turned away by a bakery that refused to sell them a cake to celebrate their wedding. This past December, the case went before the US Supreme Court. ACLU of Colorado Staff Attorney, Sara Neel, provides insight on the Supreme Court oral arguments.   Call To Action: Congress has the power to reverse the FCC’s regulation dismantling net neutrality protections. Add your name now to protect our free, fair, and open internet.  https://www.aclu.org/SaveNetNeutrality For related content from this episode visit our website at: aclu-co.org

On today’s episode, we hear from three individuals on why the ACLU is important to them. We begin with John’s interview with Gwen Young, a former board member of the ACLU of Colorado and a long-time supporter. Alejandra sits down with Nathan Woodliff-Stanley, Executive Director of the ACLU of Colorado, and we hear from Emma, one of our youngest volunteers. Call to Action: Colorado Gives Day is December 5th! www.coloradogives.org/ACLU-CO

On today's episode, Judge Powell of the Alamosa Municipal Court violated civil rights and punished defendants for their poverty. He used jail, and the threat of jail, to collect money from defendants who could not pay, in violation of state law. We shined a light on his unjust practices in the investigative report, Justice Derailed. John sits down with an author of this report, Becca Curry, Research and Policy Associate at the ACLU of Colorado. Alejandra speaks with Alex Raines, a former public defender, about his first-hand experiences at the Alamosa Municipal Court. Also, John talks about a case involving a woman who was held in the El Paso Jail, and separated from her children for 27 days, because she couldn’t pay a $55 fine. Call To Action: Alejandra calls attention to voting rights. Visit peoplepower.org to learn more.

On this bonus podcast, we highlight a local Colorado election that could have huge implications for the future of our public schools and the integrity of our state constitution. Out of state interests are pouring piles of money into Douglas County to revive a private school voucher scheme that was declared unconstitutional by the Colorado Supreme Court because it illegally funnels taxpayer money to private, religious schools. We talk to Cindy Barnard, President of Taxpayers for Public Education, who was there at the start of the program and organized concerned parents and residents to fight it. We also interview two representatives from Disability Law Colorado, who explain how vouchers are used to discriminate against and harm children with physical and developmental disabilities.   To learn more about vouchers and the Douglas County election, go to: https://aclu-co.org/vouchers/   Call To Action: Alejandra highlights the importance of voting in local elections. To register to vote or to find your closest polling place and ballot drop-off site, go to: http://www.justvotecolorado.org/   For related content from this episode visit our website at: aclu-co.org

On today’s episode, John sits down with David Cole, ACLU national Legal Director. Mr. Cole oversees the ACLU’s U.S. Supreme Court docket. He discusses the cases that will be decided during what he calls “A huge session at the Supreme Court” and the wide implications of their outcomes. Also, John has a news update on an investigation into abusive practices at a court in Alamosa. Call To Action: Alejandra highlights the importance of participating in local elections. For more information on how to participate, email us at agarza@aclu-co.org For related content from this episode, and to read the report Justice Derailed visit our website at: https://aclu-co.org/we-are-all-together/

On today’s episode, John sits down with Jeffrey Robinson, ACLU Deputy Legal Director, and Director for the Trone Center for Justice & Equality. Mr. Robinson, the ACLU’s top racial justice expert, discusses the dark history of Confederate Monuments across the country, Trump’s criticism of NFL athletes who have knelt in protest of police violence, and what we can learn from our past to combat systemic racism. Also, Staff Attorney, Arash Jahanian has a news update on yet another case involving racial profiling by police in Aurora. Call To Action: Join us in making clear demands to Attorney General Jeff Sessions to restore accountability at the Department of Justice. http://bit.ly/babtDOJ For related content from this episode, visit our website at: https://aclu-co.org/we-need-to-be-honest/

On today’s episode, Alejandra talks to ACLU clients Dave Mullins and Charlie Craig, a Colorado couple who were turned away by a bakery that refused to sell them a cake to celebrate their wedding. In November, the case will go before the US Supreme Court and the outcome could have wide implications. Dave and Charlie talk about their experience that day, what’s at stake at the Supreme Court, and why it's never been about a cake. Also, John discusses a new ACLU case involving Iraqi immigrants, the Trump Administration, and abuse at a detention facility in Aurora. And this week’s Call To Action: President Trump put thousands of military-grade weapons back into the hands of police departments across our country. Support the petition to stop sending weapons of war to our communities: http://bit.ly/stopweaponsofwar For related content from this episode, visit our website at: https://aclu-co.org/we-were-turned-away/

On today’s episode, Alejandra speaks with Victor Galvan, a DACA recipient who came to the United States as an infant. Earlier this week the Trump administration announced its plan to rescind DACA in six months affecting more than 800,000 young people like Victor. Also, John discusses an ACLU case on behalf of a Colorado man who spent 52 days in jail waiting to see a judge. This week's Call to Action: Tell your members of Congress to pass the Dream Act of 2017. Send them a message at: http://bit.ly/DreamAct17 Social media hashtags: #heretostay #dreamact For related content from this episode, visit our website at: https://aclu-co.org/i-came-out-of-the-shadows/ For more information on CIRC go to: http://coloradoimmigrant.org/

In 2012, James Fisher was sentenced to pay $678 in fines for three minor ordinance violations. Over the next four years, while he struggled with homelessness and unsteady work, James made nineteen payments to the Aurora Municipal Court totaling $1,498 and yet still owed $860. James talks about his fight to end debtor’s prisons in Colorado. Also, a special message from the ACLU of Colorado in response to Charlottesville. This week’s Call to Action: Stop Trump from pardoning Joe Arpaio. Add your name to the petition at: http://bit.ly/dont-pardon-arpaio For more info on this podcast, visit our website: https://aclu-co.org/podcast/

On today’s episode, Alejandra talks with Kalyn Heffernan, AKA Wheelchair Sports Camp, one of the disability rights activists who staged a 60 hour sit-in at Senator Cory Gardner’s office during the healthcare repeal fight. Kalyn and 8 other activists were arrested and spent 30 hours in jail. She shares her personal story in the battle to save healthcare. Also, John discusses a recent victory for free speech and the right to a jury trial in Durango and our Call to Action: DACA and 17,000 young Colorado recipients are under immediate threat. Call to Action: To find your Colorado legislator use this link: http://leg.colorado.gov/find-my-legislator For more on Wheelchair Sports Camp visit their website: https://wheelchairsportscamp.co/

On today’s episode: We introduce the Purple State Report and talk to Rebecca Wallace, an ACLU attorney who negotiated a $110K settlement in the Darsean Kelley police excessive force case.  Kelley was stopped for no reason, detained, and tased in the back by Aurora Police just as he said “I know my rights.” Wallace explains how the ACLU sought justice and what still needs to be done to hold police in Aurora and around Colorado accountable for excessive force.  Also, our Call to Action: Urge Denver City Council to keep the City from getting tangled up in federal immigration enforcement.   For more information, and to view the Darsean Kelley video, go to our website: http://aclu-co.org/podcast/   Call to Action: Contact the Denver City Council today and urge them to support the strongest possible ordinance to disentangle the City from federal immigration enforcement.  The City Council phone number is: 720-337-2000. Or, go to http://bit.ly/727action to send an email. To find your City Council District Representative go to: http://bit.ly/councildistricts

On the Purple State Report, a new podcast from the ACLU of Colorado, we discuss the big issues (voting rights, immigration, the war on drugs) affecting your rights and freedoms in Colorado, and we tell you how to get involved.