As uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic and when a vaccine will be available to the general public, it’s not just concerns about health that have some Wyomingites worried. Civil rights – especially when interacting with law enforcement – is also an issue, particularly for the state’s immigrant community.
That’s why the ACLU of Wyoming is hosting a virtual training to educate people about their rights when interacting with all types of law enforcement, including ICE officials, on Friday. The presentation will be streamed live on Zoom and on the ACLU of Wyoming’s Facebook page in Spanish.
Latinx people in Wyoming make up about 10 percent of the Wyoming population. But native Spanish speakers who move to Wyoming still struggle to find resources because of the language barrier.
“Encounters with law enforcement officials can be stressful and scary,” said Antonio Serrano, ACLU of Wyoming advocacy manager. “People have various experiences with law enforcement, some of which are not always fair or legal. That’s why we want to ensure people know their rights. As an organization, we try to pay attention to the unmet needs in our community. We want to ensure everyone understands their rights – and how to be better prepared to advocate for themselves, their family and their neighbors – in any language.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Know Your Rights with Police, presented in Spanish
WHEN: 5 p.m. Dec. 18
WHERE: Your couch. Or kitchen counter. Or wherever you have Internet access. The Zoom link will be provided after registration
TO REGISTER: Go to aclu-wy.org/kyr-events
The ACLU of Wyoming also has also has Spanish resources available on its website at www.aclu-wy.org/paginas.
About the ACLU of Wyoming
The American Civil Liberties Union of Wyoming is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of civil liberties and civil rights. The ACLU of Wyoming is part of a three-state chapter that also includes North Dakota and South Dakota. The team in Wyoming is supported by staff in those states.
The ACLU believes freedoms of press, speech, assembly, and religion, and the rights to due process, equal protection and privacy, are fundamental to a free people. In addition, the ACLU seeks to advance constitutional protections for groups traditionally denied their rights, including people of color, women, and LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit communities. The ACLU of Wyoming carries out its work through selective litigation, lobbying at the state and local level, and through public education and awareness of what the Bill of Rights means for the people of Wyoming.
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