News & Commentary

On today’s episode, today is the first day of the Colorado state legislative session. The ACLU is always extremely active at the legislature and has some big plans for 2018. John sits down with Denise Maes, ACLU of Colorado Public Policy Director, to preview this year’s top priorities. Also, a news update from ACLU of Colorado staff attorney Arash Jahanian on the recent death of an Iranian man who was being held in custody at the Aurora Immigration Detention Center. Call to Action: Make a call to prevent the deportation of 800,000 Dreamers and their families. http://bit.ly/dreamactnow

Call To Action: Congress has the power to reverse the FCC’s regulation dismantling net neutrality protections. Add your name now to protect our free, fair, and open internet. https://www.aclu.org/SaveNetNeutrality The Purple State Report is brought to you by the ACLU of Colorado. Our show was produced by Vanessa Michel, Alejandra Garza, and John Krieger with original theme music by Pablo Novelas. Additional music by Santigold. If you have feedback or suggestions for future episodes email us at [email protected].

DENVER - The Douglas County School Board voted Monday night to end the district’s controversial “Choice Scholarship” Program, which the Colorado Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional in June 2015. The ACLU of Colorado with other partners, including Americans United for Separation of Church and State and Taxpayers for Public Education, a Douglas County education advocacy group, challenged the voucher program in 2011, highlighting the Colorado Constitution’s “specific prohibition” on government funds going to schools that are controlled by churches or religious organizations.  The Colorado Supreme Court agreed with the plaintiffs and struck down the program.

On today’s episode, we hear from three individuals on why the ACLU is important to them. We begin with John’s interview with Gwen Young, a former board member of the ACLU of Colorado and a long-time supporter. Alejandra sits down with Nathan Woodliff-Stanley, Executive Director of the ACLU of Colorado, and we hear from Emma, one of our youngest volunteers. Call to Action: Colorado Gives Day is December 5th! www.coloradogives.org/ACLU-CO

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On today's episode, Judge Powell of the Alamosa Municipal Court violated civil rights and punished defendants for their poverty. He used jail, and the threat of jail, to collect money from defendants who could not pay, in violation of state law. We shined a light on his unjust practices in the investigative report, Justice Derailed. John sits down with an author of this report, Becca Curry, Research and Policy Associate at the ACLU of Colorado. Alejandra speaks with Alex Raines, a former public defender, about his first-hand experiences at the Alamosa Municipal Court. Also, John talks about a case involving a woman who was held in the El Paso Jail, and separated from her children for 27 days, because she couldn’t pay a $55 fine. Call To Action: Alejandra calls attention to voting rights. Visit peoplepower.org to learn more.

DENVER - The ACLU of Colorado filed a lawsuit in federal court this morning against El Paso County on behalf of Jasmine Still, a Colorado Springs resident who was held in jail for 27 days after a court granted her release, without payment of money, through a personal recognizance bond (PR bond). Despite the court’s order, El Paso County continued to hold Ms. Still, because she was unable to pay a $55 fee for El Paso County Pretrial Services.

On this bonus podcast, we highlight a local Colorado election that could have huge implications for the future of our public schools and the integrity of our state constitution. Out of state interests are pouring piles of money into Douglas County to revive a private school voucher scheme that was declared unconstitutional by the Colorado Supreme Court because it illegally funnels taxpayer money to private, religious schools. We talk to Cindy Barnard, President of Taxpayers for Public Education, who was there at the start of the program and organized concerned parents and residents to fight it. We also interview two representatives from Disability Law Colorado, who explain how vouchers are used to discriminate against and harm children with physical and developmental disabilities. To learn more about vouchers and the Douglas County election, go to: https://migrate-des-awp-colorado

DENVER – The Denver District Court affirmed a lower court ruling finding Denver’s park exclusion directive unconstitutional because it denies fundamental due process rights.