A note from Jennifer Allen, executive director for the ACLU of Arizona:
I am honored and excited to join the team at the ACLU of Arizona as the new Executive Director. No other organization in the state has been such a dogged defender and promoter of the fundamental and constitutional rights of Arizonans who are too often pushed to the margins and I am proud to stand alongside supporters like you to continue this critical and urgent legacy.
Arizona is a battleground state and all eyes are on us. The ACLU of Arizona has distinguished itself as an organization that not only battles at the courts, but also advocates at the legislature and organizes within communities hit hardest by injustice. This is precisely why being the Executive Director of this amazing organization has been my dream job! Four generations of my family have called Arizona home and I want to be part of ensuring that our home is one that is inclusive, just, and provides opportunities for everyone to lead lives with dignity and freedom.
We’ve got some struggles and defining moments ahead and I’m excited to walk this path with you and everyone at the ACLU of Arizona. Together with our community partners, hard-working volunteers, dedicated staff, and your partnership, we are making a tangible difference in the lives of people, families, and communities throughout the state of Arizona and across the nation. We thank you for your generosity!
We can’t sugarcoat it: it’s a crucial time for civil liberties and for democracy itself. In state legislatures around the country, including here in Arizona, politicians are dismantling voting access and the integrity of our election system. Efforts to restrict abortion access, continuous attacks against trans youth, and attempts to deny students accurate information on issues of race and racial justice are happening at an alarming rate across several states. Meanwhile, immigrants’ rights continue to be trampled on and the need for meaningful criminal justice reform has never been more important.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. The bulk of civil liberties and civil rights challenges come from the state and local levels. This means our litigation, advocacy, and organizing work on the ground in states like Arizona are even more critical, and it is thanks in part to your continued partnership that the ACLU is ready for this moment. You can read highlights of our local work this year, as well as what’s ahead for the ACLU of Arizona in 2022, below.
We can’t continue this important work alone. The pace and scale of this work requires your continued partnership. Thank you for your support and I look forward to our achievements in 2022!