When we think of local government, what might
come to mind are mundane topics such as garbage collection and pothole repairs.
However, similar to representatives in the state legislature and Congress, city
councils legislate on civil rights and civil liberties issues that affect entire
cities. While off-year elections are often characterized by low voter
turnout, they deal with high stakes issues. This year, five of ten city council
seats are up for election.

Earlier this fall, an ACLU
of Colorado investigative report
revealed inhumane conditions and deadly medical neglect at the
privately-owned, ICE-contracted immigration detention facility in Aurora,
Colorado. Kamyar Samimi, a legal permanent resident, had lived in the U.S. for
40 years and raised three children before ICE detained him. Two weeks later, he
died in ICE custody at the Aurora Contract Detention Facility.

In order to prevent any more of our neighbors
dying, we’re demanding that future City Council members support and advocate
for ordinances that create oversight for ICE detention, limit the city’s
cooperation with ICE, limit the local resources available for immigration
enforcement, and stop the expansion of private immigration detention centers.

The ACLU is also working to protect the role of public defenders in the
courts. We believe that public defenders should have the ability to work
ethically and independently with equal accommodations and resources as criminal
prosecutors. Therefore, we are also calling on future City Council members to
support effective and independent indigent defense in Aurora.

With so much at stake in Aurora this year, we
launched a voter education and mobilization campaign with the goal of creating
a mandate for politicians to enact polices that expand civil rights and
freedoms for all. Election time is when candidates are most open to pressure
and most willing to move on policy, so we’re making sure City Council candidates
know issues like detention center conditions matter to voters. We sent questionnaires to each ballot-qualified candidate to gauge
their positions on our issues. Now, we’re getting that information into the
hands of voters.

By Election Day, we will reach more than 25,000 Aurora
voters with critical information through mailers, text messages and digital
advertisements. We’re also taking to the streets to engage directly with more
voters through volunteer canvasses. Young volunteers from across the metro area
are coming together in Aurora to talk with their neighbors about key civil
liberties issues.

Civil rights and our democracy are under attack
like never before. With so many assaults on our freedoms, it can be an
overwhelming time for voters and advocates. However, by engaging on a local level
we can energize voters and protect the civil liberties of everyone in our
community.