The ultimate power in our democracy lies with the people, not with any single elected official.
Donald Trump will be inaugurated for a second time as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, 2025, and has pledged to immediately enact policies that will attack immigrant communities, LGBTQ+ students, people seeking reproductive healthcare, those who dissent, and many more.
But we have been preparing for this moment to ensure we are ready to fight back against the Trump administration's unprecedented threats to restrict our civil rights and liberties. The next four years will be challenging, but with your help, we will to put up the fight of the century.
A letter from our Executive Director
ACLU National Firewall for Freedom Initiative
Here are four concrete steps Delaware officials can take now to protect our civil liberties from a draconian Trump administration:
1. Refuse to cooperate.
The Governor and Attorney General can refuse to cooperate if the Trump administration engages in massive anti-civil liberties actions such as information requests on people accessing reproductive or gender affirming healthcare, crackdowns on public protest, indiscriminate immigration raids, and more.
2. Guarantee equal access to education.
The Attorney General can clarify that Delaware law protects vulnerable students, such as families of immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, pregnant students, and more who all may be targets of the Trump administration.
3. Ensure access to reproductive healthcare.
Delaware can follow the lead of other states that have created a Reproductive Equity Fund to ensure that providers, abortion funds, patients, and others have reliable and stable funding to continue to provide reproductive healthcare.
4. Protect immigrant communities.
Delaware officials can refuse to cooperate with dragnet immigration raids that the Trump administration may begin. In addition, the Attorney General can release guidance to prosecutors to ensure they are aware of the consequences of minor criminal convictions on a person’s immigration status, and coordinate relief to families that may be targeted by mass raids.
There are several ways you can work alongside us and your fellow Delawareans to make sure our civil liberties are protected:
1. Demand Accountability
During the 2024 election season, the ACLU of Delaware's voter information hub, VoteDelaware.org, featured candidate questionnaire to help voters learn more about where local and state candidates landed key issues like education equity, immigrants' rights, reproductive freedom, smart justice, and voting rights.
As newly elected officials begin their new terms, their responses will remain accessible right here. We must continue to hold our leaders accountable for campaign promises to protect and expand civil liberties for all Delawareans, and make sure they remain committed to the values they pledged to fight for.
2. Volunteer
As a volunteer, you can help promote civil liberties by recruiting new members, assisting staff with administrative work, drafting communications materials, mobilizing support on critical legislative issues, and conducting legal and/or policy research.
BECOME A VOLUNTEER
3. Donate
You can help protect civil liberties by making a tax deductible gift to the ACLU of Delaware Foundation.
DONATE TO THE FIGHT
4. Share
Keeping people informed and up-to-date about the state of civil rights in Delaware is a key part of protecting vulnerable communities and combatting injustice. Share our Know Your Rights guides with your friends and family, and help spread the word about our work on social media!
Know Your Rights
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Firewall for Freedom: Activist Training
Join us at an upcoming activist training near you to learn how local advocacy can help expand protections in our state, and how you can be a part of the ACLU of Delaware's affirmative agenda to advance civil liberties for all Delawareans. This hands-on training will allow you to learn more about ongoing issue campaigns from voting rights to criminal legal reform to education equity, and hear more about our Firewall for Freedom work focused on immigrants' rights, LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive freedom, and free speech.
Upcoming Trainings
Wilmington
Sunday, January 5, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Congregation Beth Emeth
300 W. Lea Blvd Wilmington, DE 19802
Dover
Tuesday, January 14, 5:30-7 p.m.
Dover Public Library Meeting Room A
35 Lookerman Plaza Dover, DE 19901
Lewes
Thursday, January 16, 5:30-7 p.m.
Lewes Public Library Large Meeting Room
111 Adams Avenue Lewes, DE 19958
