ACLU of Alabama unveils Vision 2030, plans to tackle inequities statewide

GCM Staff Report
Posted 1/22/25

Celebrating six decades of advocacy, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Alabama has launched its Vision 2030 Plan, a sweeping initiative aimed at addressing systemic inequities across the …

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ACLU of Alabama unveils Vision 2030, plans to tackle inequities statewide

Posted

Celebrating six decades of advocacy, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Alabama has launched its Vision 2030 Plan, a sweeping initiative aimed at addressing systemic inequities across the state.

The plan, unveiled last Thursday in a news release, prioritizes voting rights, gender justice and criminal legal reform, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to making Alabama a fairer, more equitable place for all.

Vision 2030 represents a roadmap for change over the next five years, with specific goals designed to uplift marginalized communities. The affiliate plans to increase Black voter turnout, dismantle discriminatory healthcare practices and advance reforms within Alabama’s criminal legal system.

"We have been laying the foundation of Vision 2030, not only over the past three years of concentrated effort but over my last decade with the affiliate, and throughout its 60 years of existence,” ACLU of Alabama Executive Director JaTaune Bosby Gilchrist said in the release. “We are ready. We have the talent, the vision, the strategy and the integrity to accomplish our ambitious goals, and we will not stop until we have succeeded in making Alabama a fairer and more equitable place for all."

Among its objectives, the Vision 2030 Plan seeks to amplify Black voter turnout to 55%-60% by the 2028 general election through targeted education and community engagement. The ACLU also aims to challenge restrictive voting laws and advocate for more equitable representation, including flipping an additional Congressional seat to better reflect Alabama’s Black constituency.

In the realm of gender justice, the plan focuses on eliminating healthcare discrimination and expanding access to reproductive and maternal healthcare, including Medicaid coverage for midwifery services and contraception. Restoring abortion access, gender-affirming care and improving legal protections for those impacted by restrictive laws are also central to the strategy.

The criminal legal reform aspect of Vision 2030 includes reducing Alabama’s prison population, advocating for parole reform and providing direct legal representation to individuals on death row, particularly those sentenced despite jury life verdicts.

This announcement comes as the organization reflects on its long history of advocacy. While the ACLU of Alabama formally established its office in 1965, its roots stretch back decades earlier, including its defense of the Scottsboro Boys in the 1930s and its collaboration with Black leaders during the civil rights movement.

"Established to defend against the State’s assaults on civil rights and liberties, the ACLU of Alabama has upheld this legacy while evolving to meet contemporary challenges," said Glory McLaughlin, chair of the ACLU of Alabama’s Board of Directors. "In Alabama, we are never short on challenges. Luckily, the affiliate is never short on creative solutions."

For more information about the Vision 2030 Plan and ways to support these efforts, visit www.aclualabama.org/aclu-alabama-60.