In the past year we faced some dark moments in our pursuit of freedom, equality, and justice for all. Racism and fascism remain on the rise, along with hate-fueled acts of violence. The right-wing Supreme Court decimated the constitutional protections of Roe v. Wade, then undermined popular common-sense gun regulations. Systemic inequality, anti-democratic assaults on voting rights and election integrity, and attacks on LGBTQ+ rights persist.

Worrying about the future of our democracy and the further erosion of fundamental rights by a radical right-wing judiciary is realistic. But we have a large supply of resilience and creative strategizing to draw on, and we will use the formidable momentum we’ve gained in a tremendously disruptive year to protect and advance the rights of New Yorkers for years to come. The fight is never easy, yet the NYCLU always stands strong to defend democracy and advance the cause of liberty. This year, we achieved some key successes for the people of New York, especially for those most at risk.

Throughout this report, you’ll read about our many important legal, legislative, and organizing victories, meet some of our extraordinary partners and staff, and get a look at our ambitious plans for 2023.

In 2022, we led the nation in passing the state’s John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act, now the strongest state-level voting protection in the country. The bill increases language assistance, strengthens protections against voter intimidation, enhances the transparency of critical voting data, and, most importantly, accelerates the inclusion of voting populations that have historically been denied an equal opportunity to participate in the political process.

In a similarly extraordinary accomplishment, we twice won legislative passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, which will literally put abortion on the ballot in 2024. If approved by the voters, the ERA will not only protect abortion rights; it will enshrine critical new anti-discrimination protections in our state constitution.

A major portion of the NYCLU-backed SIGH Act, which prohibits the construction of new schools near major polluting roadways, was passed (though disappointingly vetoed by the Governor due to pressure from New York City).

We filed a class-action lawsuit challenging the permanent exclusion of people with felony convictions from serving on juries in Manhattan and we protected the right of people in jails to receive treatment for Opioid Use Disorder. As part of our campaign for greater law enforcement transparency, we filed lawsuits against several police departments for unlawfully withholding misconduct records they are required to disclose and we worked proactively to affirm and expand our right to vote ahead of the crucial midterms in the fall.

After a decade-plus-long campaign, we finally overturned a relic of the Jim Crow era and won overtime pay for farmworkers. We also persuaded the courts to order due process fixes for immigrants.

And finally, we further developed the NYCLU’s first Artist Ambassador Program to strengthen the partnership between NYCLU and artists in furthering civil rights and liberties.

These victories strengthen New York as a beacon of democracy and fairness, a model for state progress, and a safe haven for people across the country.

In the coming year, continuing our strategic work to promote equality, strengthen democracy, pursue justice, and protect privacy and autonomy, we will:

• Launch a major campaign to educate and mobilize voters to pass the Equal Rights Amendment in November 2024.
• Renew our campaign to expand and pass the SIGH Act to protect students across the state by prohibiting the construction of new schools near major roadways.
• Pressure state lawmakers to protect and advance reproductive justice by enacting additional elements of our Abortion Access Roadmap. Though safe abortion care remains well protected in our state, we must expand meaningful access for the many people across the country who will have to turn to states like ours to receive the vital care they need.
• File additional lawsuits to hold law enforcement accountable.
• Champion the housing movement via the Good Cause Eviction bill, right-to-counsel protections, and other measures that support unhoused and rent-burdened New Yorkers.
• Advocate for passage of the Protect Our Privacy Act, which would impose limitations on the use of drones for law enforcement purposes, prohibit drone surveillance of protests, and set rules for public access, retention, and deletion of drone-collected data.

We must fight to defend and expand civil rights and civil liberties every day, with all means, however daunting the challenges. Many more victories for criminal legal system reform, racial justice, voter protection, and reproductive rights lie before us if we keep the faith and remember that we go to battle not just for ourselves but for all those left vulnerable by a broken system. A fairer, more inclusive New York is possible because of our combined strength, passion, and ingenuity.

We are grateful for your commitment to advancing the work that brings us ever closer to true, lasting equality.

Onward,

Donna Lieberman