AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOUNDATION INC

IMPACT LITIGATION: OUR LEGAL TEAM USES IMPACT LITIGATION TO VINDICATE THE VARIOUS CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES PROTECTED UNDER STATE AND FEDERAL LAW. WHEN POLICY OR PRACTICE FAILS TO LIVE UP TO THE VALUES SET FORTH IN OUR CONSTITUTION, LITIGATION PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO RIGHT THE WRONGS EXPERIENCED BY OUR CLIENTS AND TO REFORM THE SYSTEMS THAT CAUSED THE HARM.WE PRIORITIZE CASES IN THE AREAS OF VOTING RIGHTS, JUVENILE JUSTICE, FREE SPEECH, AND LGBTQ EQUALITY. IN 2024, WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING STRUCK DOWN A NORTH MYRTLE BEACH ORDINANCE PROHIBITING PROFANE, VULGAR, AND OBSCENE MUSIC," ARGUING THAT SUCH AN ORDINANCE VIOLATED THE FIRST AMENDMENT. ALSO IN 2024, WE CHALLENGED THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND STATE ELECTION COMMISSION'S FAILURE TO REGISTER ELIGIBLE 17-YEAR-OLD VOTERS, WHICH LED TO AN UPDATE IN SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES ENSURING THESE YOUNG VOTERS COULD REGISTER AS REQUIRED BY LAW.

ADVOCACY AND ORGANIZING: OUR ADVOCACY TEAM ANALYZES THE IMPACT OF PROPOSED AND EXISTING LEGISLATION ON CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES AND LOOKS FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO FURTHER OUR MISSION THROUGH POSITIVE POLICY CHANGES. THEN WE ADVOCATE FOR GOOD LAWS AND STAND IN THE WAY OF BAD POLICY. WHEN WE'RE ADVOCATING, WE ORGANIZE AND MOBILIZE ACTIVISTS WHO LEAD EFFORTS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND ENGAGE IN STATEWIDE CAMPAIGNS.IN 2024, WE SUCCESSFULLY STOPPED STATE LAWMAKERS FROM CENSORING THE CURRICULUM TAUGHT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE CONDUCTED LEGAL ANALYSIS OF THE PROPOSED POLICIES, EDUCATED SOUTH CAROLINIANS ABOUT THE WAYS CURRICULUM CENSORSHIP VIOLATES THE FIRST AMENDMENT, AND ELEVATED THE VOICES OF STUDENTS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND LIBRARIES WHO WERE OPPOSED TO THESE HARMFUL PROPOSALS.