Equal Rights
The Bill of Rights was written in broad language that excluded no one. But in fact, when it was drafted, it was not intended to protect all the people. Whole groups were left out.
Not until the abolition of slavery, the extension of the right to vote to African Americans and women, and passage of the 14th Amendment which guarantees due process and equal protection of the law did the Constitution specifically begin to address issues of equality and discrimination. And not until decades later, when the idea of equal protection was fleshed out by the courts and Congress passed major civil rights legislation to protect people from discrimination at the polls, in employment, and housing and public places, did equality begin to flourish in the United States.
The ACLU continues to work to ensure the achievement of full equality for all groups that have historically been denied their constitutional rights. We fight discrimination and identity-based profiling to ensure that all persons are treated fairly, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, age, religious affiliation and socio-economic background.
In Massachusetts, this has meant supporting marriage equality, advocating for laws that protect people from discrimination based on identity and stereotypes, and promoting accountability and fair treatment by law enforcement and other public officials.
Freedom can't
Or tweet
