The ACLU of Missouri congratulates Tishaura Jones on her historic victory. We look forward to holding her accountable throughout her administration to expand and protect civil liberties in St. Louis. This work begins day one- starting with an ambitious 100 day campaign to ensure community control over police surveillance, decriminalize low-level offenses, and close the Workhouse.
Throughout this campaign, the ACLU educated voters on candidates’ positions through our election hub website. Our volunteers engaged 25,000 St. Louis voters via 81,891 texts and 9,403 phone calls. Over 550 St. Louisans committed to being an ACLU voter. They demand that their next mayor and alderman fight to end mass incarceration by reducing arrests for low-level misdemeanors like sex work, closing the Workhouse, and empowering communities to limit police surveillance. Both mayoral candidates and nine Board of Alderman candidates committed to these reforms. The ACLU is pleased to see Tishaura’s openness to expeditious work on police surveillance transparency when she said during the final mayoral debate “I would work with the ACLU and other organizations that protect people’s civil liberties to make sure we are protecting people’s rights because that’s paramount.” We look forward to meeting in the coming days.
“As the Executive Director of an organization that has represented the rights of Missourians for over 100 years, I am eager and determined to engage in the process of holding our new mayor accountable as we strive to make St. Louis a beacon for civil liberties.” Luz María Henríquez, Executive Director of the ACLU of Missouri
Today is the start of a new opportunity for our city to move forward in positive change and advance the rights of all no matter their race or socioeconomic status. Join the ACLU’s efforts by taking the pledge here.