News & Commentary

Jan 16, 2026

Statehouse Dispatch: Jan. 19, 2026

Free speech, voting rights, abortion, and trans rights are all on the line this week

By Paul Bowers

"Statehouse Dispatch: Jan. 19, 2026. This Week Under the Copper Dome." Background photo of the Statehouse dome with a blue tint.
Jan 12, 2026

Statehouse Dispatch: Jan. 12, 2026

South Carolina lawmakers return to Columbia on Tuesday. Get ready with us.

By Paul Bowers

"Statehouse Dispatch: Jan. 12, 2026. This week under the copper dome." Background is a salmon-tinted photo of the Statehouse dome.
Jan 02, 2026

Did the Justice Department abandon people in South Carolina jails?

When the Justice Department announced federal investigations into the Alvin S. Glenn and Sheriff Al Cannon detention centers in 2023, advocates and community leaders thought accountability was finally coming to Richland and Charleston counties. So far, we were wrong.

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Nov 13, 2025

We can stop the total abortion ban

Politicians are attacking our reproductive rights. Help us stop S. 323 before it becomes law.

By Paul Bowers

A hand puts a stack of postcards with the words "Vote No on S. 323" into a mailbox.
Oct 23, 2025

Remembering Harry G. Wilkinson, a rebel with a cause

Our new legal internship program carries on the legacy of a globe-trotting civil rights lawyer and ACLU-SC board member

By Paul Bowers

"Remembering Harry G. Wilkinson, Rebel with a Cause." Photo of Harry, a man in a button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up, seated on some rocks with an outcropping of flowering scrub plants.
Oct 21, 2025

Listen to our new podcast series: ICE Invades South Carolina

Hear how your neighbors are showing up to defend immigrants' rights and resist the mass deportation campaign

By Paul Bowers

"While I Breathe. ICE Invades South Carolina (Parts 1 + 2)." An image of a microphone and crescent moon imitate the South Carolina state flag.
Aug 18, 2025

Meet our 2025 summer legal interns

Kaleb Phelps and Alex Lingle share some insights from the Summer Legal Internship Program and ACLU-SC Legal Internship

By Paul Bowers

"Meet our summer 2025 legal interns." Professional headshots of Kaleb and Alex in suits and ties in front of a purple-tinted image of the Columbia skyline.
Aug 04, 2025

Sheriff’s election coming up? Get the candidates’ stances on ICE collaboration

We asked Spartanburg County Sheriff candidates whether they would stay in a 287(g) agreement

By Paul Bowers

"Sheriff's Election Coming Up? Get the candidates' stances on ICE collaboration." Photo of a police officer facing away from the camera. Blue-tinted background includes blurry image of police and vehicles.
Jul 30, 2025

Listen to our new podcast on the fight over 'conversion therapy'

A medically discredited practice known as “conversion therapy” seeks to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of LGBTQ+ people. Medical experts long ago reached the conclusion that this practice is harmful, and many of the leading founders of “ex-gay” organizations have apologized and renounced their own work in the past decade. So why are South Carolina’s most powerful politicians pushing to bring it back? 

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