March 20, 2013

Statement of ACLU of Colorado Executive Director Nathan Woodliff-Stanley on the death of Tom Clements, Colorado Department of Corrections Executive Director 

"The ACLU of Colorado is profoundly saddened to learn of the death of Tom Clements, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Corrections. We send our deepest sympathies to Mr. Clements’ family.

"During his short two-year tenure, Mr. Clements took significant strides to protect the civil rights and human dignity of prisoners. Not only did he close Colorado State Penitentiary II – a supermax facility designed to deny prisoners human contact – but he dramatically reduced the population of prisoners held in solitary conditions. In the last several months, he worked cooperatively with the ACLU of Colorado to reduce the significant numbers of seriously mentally ill prisoners held in long-term solitary confinement.

"Mr. Clements was an intelligent, kind and humane leader who was open and receptive to the ACLU’s work. He will be deeply missed."

Statement of ACLU of Colorado legal director Mark Silverstein on the Colorado Springs City Council’s decision to repeal the downtown no-solicitation zone

“The ACLU of Colorado is pleased that Colorado Springs has decided to repeal this overbroad, ill-advised and unconstitutional ordinance.

It was a tremendous overreach to try to forbid any and all solicitation in a huge 12-city block downtown area. The City was unable to cite a single case in which a court had upheld such a breathtakingly broad restriction of speech.

“We are delighted that the free expression rights of musicians, theater performers, nonprofit fundraisers and others will be restored and respected.”

more on this case

March 12, 2013

Statement of ACLU of Colorado executive director Nathan Woodliff-Stanley
on the passage of civil unions in the Colorado House of Representatives

“The ACLU of Colorado is thrilled the Colorado legislature passed civil unions and that the bill is now headed to the governor for signature. It is a historic moment not only for LGBT couples, but for all Coloradans who believe in equal rights for all people.

“We stand with legislators who voted against amendments that would have allowed exemptions for child placement agencies and businesses. Religion cannot be used as an excuse for discrimination under the law.

“The ACLU is proud to fight for the rights of LGBT couples who now have a way in Colorado to establish legal and social recognition for their relationships.”