News & Commentary

Yesterday, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen released an Attorney General’s Opinion (AGO) asserting that teaching critical race theory or principles of anti-racism in Montana public schools violates federal and state law. This inflammatory AGO does not and cannot change the fact that teaching Montana students about the essential role that racism has played in creating and perpetuating systemic inequality in our country is not only vitally important but legally permissible.  

The Montana Racial Equity Project (MTREP) and the ACLU of Montana have sent a letter to Rachel Harlow-Schalk, Helena City Manager, regarding serious concerns with the City of Helena’s School Resource Officer (SRO) MOU Working Group. This Working Group was formed after an intense community discussion regarding SROs during July’s City Council meeting. The original stated purpose of this group was to have a robust discussion surrounding the purpose and utility of having SROs in Helena school districts. However, no such discussion has taken place at these meetings.

The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Montana, and Native American Rights Fund (NARF) today challenged two new Montana laws that hinder Native American participation in the state’s electoral process.

Ten immigrant justice, human rights, and criminal justice groups based in Montana sent a letter today urging Department of Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to end Immigration and Customs Enforcement  (ICE) collaboration programs, including the 287(g) program, Secure Communities and ICE detainers. 

Ten immigrant justice, human rights, and criminal justice groups based in Montana sent a letter today urging Department of Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to end Immigration and Customs Enforcement  (ICE) collaboration programs, including the 287(g) program, Secure Communities and ICE detainers. 

Yesterday, we learned that Attorney General Austin Knudsen decided to use the Office’s time and resources to join an Arizona lawsuit to stop new guidance from DHS that would redirect where and how the agency pursues deportation.

About six months after the Ballot Interference Prevention Act (BIPA)  --  a law that made it harder for Indigenous people living on rural reservations to vote -- was struck down as unconstitutional, lawmakers are set to debate a similarbill that would, once again, infringe on numerous fundamental rights.  Not one, but two district courts have already ruled that restrictions on ballot collection violate the right to vote, the right to free speech, and the right to due process. 

My father came to this country when he was 15 years old; my mother arrived when she was 19 years old. I value and love my diverse family. I am full of such pride in the ways that my parents served this country.