From Brown v. Board to Roe v. Wade, from free speech to criminal justice to immigrants’ rights, from interracial marriage to same-sex marriage, there is no question that the ACLU has had an enormous impact on American society over the last 103 years of its existence.
This discussion will survey the history of the ACLU, its successes, and the impact the ACLU of New Jersey has made in communities like Maplewood, across the state, and the country. The panel will also explore critical issues including access to reproductive freedom for all, policing and bias, decarceration, racial justice, voting rights, and the power of advocacy. Importantly, the panel will also discuss the evolution of the ACLU itself, including the challenges and opportunities the organization has faced and continues to face, and the ways in which it is called upon to meet the moment in the most crucial times.
Amol Sinha is the Executive Director of the ACLU of New Jersey. Under his leadership, the ACLU-NJ has continued to change New Jersey’s social justice landscape for the better. He leads with the goal of advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in every aspect of his role, from internal capacity-building to external advocacy.
Alexander Shalom is Senior Supervising Attorney and Director of Supreme Court Advocacy at the ACLU-NJ. Alex primarily litigates cases on issues that disproportionately impact people of color.
Maplewoodian Rhea Beck is the Director of People and Culture, a role that guides the ACLU-NJ in upholding the principles of social justice and equity not just externally, but within the organization.
Maplewoodian Alexis Karteron is a Professor of Law at Rutgers Law School. She directs the Rutgers Constitutional Rights Clinic, which handles cases and matters addressing a range of civil rights issues within the criminal legal system.
Robert Marchman is the Senior Policy Advisor on Diversity and Inclusion at the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission. He helps to promote diversity and inclusions within the SEC and twith agency partners and market participants..
Photos courtesy Tracy Sham Photography