Rights This Way

It happens like clockwork. A person suffering from serious mental health problems is accused of a heinous and tragic crime committed against a stranger. Then the calls come from law enforcement, politicians, and right-wing tabloids to lock more people up. Rinse and repeat. This all happens despite the fact that people living with mental health challenges are 11 times more likely to be the victims of crime and violence than to commit an act of violence.It is undeniably true that the status quo for how we address issues like homelessness and serious mental health challenges is untenable. But the response must not be to simply lock more people away. That doesn’t make us safer, and it doesn’t solve the root problems that lead to these devastating events.Everyone deserves to have safe and stable housing, and we should all be able to get the health care we need when we need it. But for this to happen, we need meaningful, comprehensive, and paradigm-shifting new investments in affordable housing and our mental health care system.If we don’t see these types of commitments from our state leaders soon, we are headed for incredibly dark days, especially with President Trump in office who promised to disappear homeless people into ill-defined “tent cities.”On this episode, we talk about why our current approach to dealing with homelessness and serious mental health issues doesn’t work and what needs to be done to truly fix these problems with Harvey Rosenthal, Chief Executive Officer of the Alliance for Rights and Recovery and Beth Haroules, NYCLU Senior Staff Attorney.Resources:Follow The Alliance for Rights and Recovery: https://rightsandrecovery.org/The Status Quo on Homelessness and Mental Health Care is Untenable: https://www.nyclu.org/commentary/the-status-quo-on-homelessness-and-mental-health-care-is-untenableNYCLU Kings County case: https://www.nyclu.org/court-cases/mental-hygiene-legal-services-v-nyc-hhc-challenging-squalid-conditions-abuse-brooklyns-kingsThe Dangers of Kendra’s Law: https://www.nyclu.org/resources/policy/one-pagers/dangers-kendras-lawDaniel’s Law: https://www.danielslawny.org/Links to definitions of key terms mentioned in the podcast:Intensive and Sustained Engagement Team (INSET) program: https://greatermentalhealth.org/inset/Safe Option Support Teams: https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/rfp/2023/sos/index.htmlClubhouses: https://clubhouse-intl.org/what-we-do/what-clubhouses-do/Crisis Respite Centers: https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/crisis-emergency-services-respite-centers.page

The Trump Administration has stoked widespread fear in immigrant communities across New York and around the country. Through immigration raids, and a non-stop barrage of anti-immigrant policies, Trump’s plans to tear families apart and launch the largest mass deportations in U.S. history are well underway.There’s no sugarcoating how bad the current situation is. But we should also understand that there’s a lot New York lawmakers can do to protect our immigrant neighbors. On this episode, we discuss what policies need to be put in place at the state level to help safeguard communities from Trump’s deportation dragnet. And we dig into why Trump’s mass deportations will ultimately hurt all New Yorkers.We also get a sense of how people in immigrant communities are feeling by talking to an immigrant New Yorker about her experience.Please download, share, rate, and review Rights This Way. It will help more people find this podcast.Guests:Zachary Ahmad: NYCLU Senior Policy CounselIrma Solis: NYCLU Suffolk Regional Office DirectorMrs. Melendez: volunteer for the NYCLU's education equity program in Suffolk County, Long IslandResources:Our previous episode "The Case for Open Borders" with author and journalist John Washington: https://www.nyclu.org/podcast/the-case-for-open-bordersNew York for All: https://www.nyclu.org/resources/campaigns-actions/campaigns/new-york-all-actDignity Not Detention: https://nydignitynotdetention.org/How New York Can Defend Against Trump’s Mass Deportations: https://www.nyclu.org/commentary/how-new-york-can-defend-against-trumps-mass-deportationsGet involved and volunteer with us: https://www.nyclu.org/get-involved/volunteerFor more on everything we discuss in this episode, visit www.nyclu.org/For transcripts and additional information on the episodes, visit www.nyclu.org/podcastsFollow NYCLU on Twitter and Instagram.

It seems like ancient history, but it actually wasn’t that long ago when – during the first Trump administration – large protests featured signs that read “no kids in cages” and “no body is illegal.” It is hard to remember that less than a decade ago, Democrats running in their party’s presidential primary were competing over who was more pro-immigrant.Times have changed. President Trump has begun his effort to carry out the largest mass deportation of immigrants in U.S. history. Families and whole communities are stricken with fear.Meanwhile, the calls to “close the border” or at the very least “tighten” it are coming from all sides of the political playing field. But is there another way forward? What if for our economy and our country to thrive we need open borders, not hyper-militarized ones?Journalist and author John Washington makes exactly this argument in his recent book, “The Case for Open Borders.” In an interview that took place before Trump took office, we speak with John about why he believes open borders would strengthen our country and better align the United States with its stated ideals of liberty and freedom. Much of what John argues for goes beyond the NYCLU’s policy prevue and we’re not asking everyone to agree with everything he says. But his perspective offers a stark contrast to the vast majority of what we hear about immigration every day, and we think it’s a valuable viewpoint to hear.Please download, rate, review, and subscribe to Rights This Way. It will help more people find this podcast."The Case for Open Borders" by John Washington: https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2199-the-case-for-open-bordersListen to our previous episode with NYC Comptroller Brad Lander on new migrants: https://www.nyclu.org/podcast/why-new-migrants-are-good-for-nyc-with-comptroller-brad-landerTake action: tell lawmakers to protect immigrant New Yorkers from mass deportation: https://action.aclu.org/send-message/protect-immigrant-new-yorkers-trumps-mass-deportationFor more on everything we discuss in this episode, visit www.nyclu.org/For transcripts and additional information on the episodes, visit www.nyclu.org/podcastsFollow NYCLU on Twitter and Instagram.

Watch the video version of this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwHV7aTjToU&t=923sSUFFS is a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical set in the early 1900s that chronicles the suffragists’ fight to secure women’s right to vote. More than a century later, the production’s Broadway run is happening at a moment when abortion rights, and women’s rights more broadly, are under attack across the country. On this episode, we sit down with SUFFS’ writer, composer, and star Shaina Taub, and ensemble cast member Jenna Bainbridge to talk about creating politically-engaged art. We also discuss what lessons we can draw from the suffragists’ experience that will help us in our current moment. Finally, we talk about the connection between SUFFS and the push here in New York to safeguard the right to abortion by voting for Prop 1 this election. Please rate, review and subscribe to Rights This Way. It will help more people find this podcast. Learn more about and get tickets to SUFFS: https://suffsmusical.com/ Join the Prop 1 campaign: https://nyequalrights.org/ Our campaign page: https://www.nyclu.org/resources/campaigns-actions/campaigns/new-york-needs-equal-rights-amendment Our commentary piece on Prop 1: https://www.nyclu.org/commentary/why-new-yorkers-should-vote-yes-on-proposition-1  For more on everything we discuss in this episode, visit https://www.nyclu.org/For transcripts and additional information on the episodes, visit https://www.nyclu.org/ideas/podcastsFollow NYCLU on Twitter and Instagram.

Across the country, politicians are restricting people’s rights and freedoms, including the right to abortion and the right for all of us to be who we are. Since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, twenty-one states have either banned or restricted abortion care. There’s also a full-blown assault on LGBTQ rights, with hundreds of anti-LGBTQ bills introduced — and many passed — in state legislatures across the country just this year. Some might think we’re safe from these attacks here in New York, but the truth is there are dangerous loopholes in our state constitution that leave us vulnerable to the whims of politicians. That’s why the NYCLU is part of a ballot initiative committee formed to pass Proposal 1 this November. Prop 1 – or the New York Equal Rights Amendment as it was previously known – will protect our rights and reproductive freedoms — including the right to abortion. But New York voters have to pass it first. In this episode, we get into why Prop 1 is so important with New Yorkers for Equal Rights Campaign Director Sasha Ahuja and NYCLU Executive Director, Donna Lieberman. We also delve into the grassroots campaign designed to make sure it succeeds in November. Please rate, review and subscribe to Rights This Way. It will help more people find this podcast. Join the Prop 1 campaign: https://nyequalrights.org/Our campaign page: https://www.nyclu.org/resources/campaigns-actions/campaigns/new-york-needs-equal-rights-amendmentOur latest commentary piece on Prop 1: https://www.nyclu.org/commentary/why-new-yorkers-should-vote-yes-on-proposition-1 For more on everything we discuss in this episode, visit https://www.nyclu.org/For transcripts and additional information on the episodes, visit https://www.nyclu.org/ideas/podcastsFollow NYCLU on Twitter and Instagram.

This February in Long Island, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman issued an executive order banning transgender girls and women from participating in girls’ and women’s sports at county-run facilities. The NYCLU sued to block this policy, arguing that it violates New York’s Human Rights Law and Civil Rights Law, which explicitly prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. Justice prevailed and, in May, the Nassau County Supreme Court ruled in the NYCLU and Roller Rebels’ favor, striking down the executive order.Then, shortly after we recorded this podcast, the Nassau County Legislature introduced legislation designed to resurrect Blakeman’s ban. The bill is slated to be voted on later in June. The NYCLU’s Nassau field office is mobilizing with other advocates to stop the bill in its tracks including organizing rallies and getting people to testify against the bill. But if it passes, the NYCLU will file another lawsuit to strike it down.Blakeman claims Nassau’s trans ban will protect cisgender women and girls. But on this episode, we’ll explore why the order is actually a harmful, transphobic policy designed to shut trans people out of public spaces. We’ll hear from two NYCLU lawyers who brought the case, and from the president of the Long Island Roller Rebels, a team in the Nassau County Recreational Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby League. The Roller Rebels are the plaintiffs in our case. Their league, which welcomes trans women, was barred from using Nassau County’s facilities under the executive order.Guests:Gabriella Larios: Staff Attorney at the New York Civil Liberties UnionBobby Hodgson: NYCLU Assistant Legal DirectorCurly Fry: President of the Long Island Roller RebelsPlease download, rate, review and subscribe to Rights This Way. It will help more people find this podcast.Our campaign page for the Roller Rebels’ case: https://www.nyclu.org/resources/campaigns-actions/campaigns/stand-trans-athletes-nassau-countyMeet the Roller Rebels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRdu_h7Ww8Q&t=2sRead about our case: https://www.nyclu.org/court-cases/roller-rebels-v-blakemanTell lawmakers to vote against the anti trans bill in the Nassau County Legislature: https://action.aclu.org/send-message/stop-anti-trans-hate-nassauFor more on everything we discuss in this episode, visit https://www.nyclu.org/For transcripts and additional information on the episodes, visit https://www.nyclu.org/ideas/podcastsFollow NYCLU on Twitter and Instagram.