ACLU Statement on Biden’s State of the Union

WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union released the following statement from ACLU Chief Political and Advocacy Officer Deirdre Schifeling, responding to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address this evening:

“We applaud President Biden’s State of the Union address where he unequivocally affirmed that voting, abortion, trans rights, and the right to learn aren’t just critical civil liberties, they are fundamental to who we are as a nation. At a time when extreme far-right politicians are relentlessly attacking our civil rights and undermining the strength of our democracy, we commend the administration’s commitment to protecting bedrock principles of freedom of expression, bodily autonomy, equality, and free and fair elections for all.

“The president’s address comes as our country begins voting in one of our most consequential elections of our lifetimes. As the president made clear, reproductive freedom is on the ballot. With political tensions high and the stakes higher, President Biden’s promises to restore abortion access and ensure that every eligible voter can fully exercise their right to vote are more essential than ever.

“President Biden also affirmed the need to help our communities improve public safety and uphold our nation’s historic commitment to welcome people seeking a better life. That means investing in solutions like mental health workers and community violence intervention, as the president stated. It also means passing a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and humane and balanced solutions to fix our broken immigration system.

“We look forward to working together with the administration to secure and expand the freedoms we all deserve.”