12 Latinx/e Changemakers from Maryland. Background is purple. The image has a silhouette of Maryland and has colorful flowers in the left bottom and upper right corners.

12 Latinx/e Changemakers from Maryland

This Latinx/e Heritage Month Hear About these Past and Present Changemakers

By Neydin Milián

Latest Event


Life After a Second Chance Series Premiere (February 8, 2025)

We believe in restorative justice. That’s why our staff and partners have been working diligently to pass the Second Look Act. And we made a short film to explain why.

ACLU of Maryland Life After A Second Chance Flyer

More from the Press


Placeholder image

Stay informed on civil rights issues. Discover our latest actions and updates in the Press Release section.

Commentary: Once part of the problem, we are now part of the solution

Since my release, I have now become part of the solution to crime and violence in the same community where I was once part of the problem.

Anthony Muhammad, Yanet Amanuel, and Sonia Kumar stand together in the Maryland chamber houses on the day of a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee for the Maryland Second Look Act.

A Lobby Day to Remember

We held a children’s rights focused Day of Action in Annapolis to pass some good bills.

By Neydin Milián

Day of Action: Justice for Children & Incarcerated Marylanders. Monday, February 19, 2024. Group photo of advocates and directly impacted Marylanders in Annapolis on Lobby Night for 2024 Maryland Legislative session.

Sister, We’re Two of a Kind: Black Womanhood Reflected From Screen to Reality

Since its inception as a novel in 1982 (and shortly followed by the original film adaptation in 1985), The Color Purple has been a transparent and moving testament to the perseverance of Black womanhood and sisterhood, themes that have been pivotal in my own experience.

By Alicia Smith

Antoinette and Alicia celebrating with family on Christmas 2023. They are wearing matching red holiday outfits.They were celebrating with family on Christmas 2023.

A Musical Love Letter to Black History & Futures

A Memoir of Songs from the Black Staff at ACLU of Maryland

By Nehemiah Bester, Alicia Smith, Veronica Dunlap, Rebecca M. Phillips, Yanet Amanuel, Gina Elleby, Bonita ‘Bea’ Rabalais, Gregory Brown, Shaqué Ingram, Dara Johnson, Dana Vickers Shelley, Carlos Childs

Celebrating Black History & Futures. Spotify playlist embed on right side. Follow us on Spotify and listen to the full playlist there.

Get All the Facts on Children’s Due Process Rights

Defend the Childhood Interrogation Protection and Juvenile Justice Reform Acts.

By Neydin Milián

Defend Children's Rights! The legal justice scales statue is on the left side with a blue and yellow gradient. A Black parent with their Black child are in the bottom right corner, also with a blue and yellow gradient. The child has their head down.

Get a Taste of Our Favorite Dishes During the Holidays

A few of our staff members got together to share their favorite foods to eat during the holidays.

By Neydin Milián, Nehemiah Bester, Nicole McCann, Dana Vickers Shelley, Nick Taichi Steiner, Veronica Dunlap, Alicia Smith

Collage of recipes over a sparkly red and orange gradient background.

Defend Kodi Gaines' Rights

The family of Korryn and Kodi Gaines is suing to bring accountability for Kodi Gaines. Seven years ago, Baltimore County Police Officer Royce Ruby shot and killed 23-year-old Korryn Gaines. In the process, the officer also critically wounded her son, then five-year old Kodi.

By Neydin Milián

Korryn Gaines and her son

No one’s life is ‘collateral damage.’ Qualified immunity for police must be stopped.

On Dec. 4, the Maryland Supreme Court will have an opportunity to address this crisis of impunity when it hears a case in which lower courts radically expanded the reach of qualified immunity to excuse the horrific police shooting of a 5-year-old child amid police gunfire that killed his mother.

By Deborah Jeon

Rhanda Dormeus is a Black woman and is Korryn Gaines mother. She is standing outside and has her hand over her mouth and eyes closed.  AP photo credit Amanda Andrade-Rhoades.

Young Activists Are Building a Sweet Future This October

Teens Launched Youth Justice Action Month to Defend Children’s Rights

By Neydin Milián

Defend Children's Rights! The legal justice scales statue is on the left side with a blue and yellow gradient. A Black parent with their Black child are in the bottom right corner, also with a blue and yellow gradient. The child has their head down.