2024 Impact Report

A Message from the Executive Director

New York is moving forward.

As we grapple with a second Trump administration, I want to assure you that the NYCLU and ACLU are prepared. We have built up our organization to be strong across the country in litigation, advocacy and public education. And let us not forget, we fought Trump before—and in many cases, we won.

The NYCLU helped beat back his Muslim Ban and Trump’s attempt to rig the Census, rescued immigrant children taken in the dead of night and held thousands of miles away, ended indefinite ICE detention in New York, and helped hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers speak out, know their rights, and take action. We defied Trump’s movement by updating New York’s inadequate abortion law, delivering long-overdue reforms to the criminal system, winning the most progressive state voting rights act in the country, adding new state protections for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, and more.

As Trump’s presidential campaign loomed over 2024 like a storm cloud, the NYCLU and ACLU played huge roles in holding the line—and even advancing civil rights and liberties on a number of fronts.

I am proud that the NYCLU led the coalition to pass Prop 1 on election day. New York voters stood up for women and LGBTQ+, immigrant, and disabled New Yorkers by approving the most progressive and comprehensive state Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in the country. With this vote, New York enshrined the right to abortion in the New York State Constitution and expanded anti-discrimination protections to those who have been excluded for far too long.

And, in December, Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Students Impacted by Gross Highways (“SIGH”) Act, which will prohibit the construction of schools within 500 feet of major roadways. With this, New York took an enormous step towards dismantling the unjust system of environmental racism that has forced mostly Black and Brown students to breathe toxic air every day at school.

The NYCLU spent years strongly advocating for the passage of the SIGH Act, co-authoring the legislation, bolstering support among lawmakers with our student organizers, and mobilizing thousands of students and parents across the state in support of the bill.

I’ll be frank—we have our work cut out for us as we confront the Trump administration. Many of us are in pain and we are worried about the road ahead. But the NYCLU and ACLU are determined to fight back with everything we’ve got. And we are prepared.

Immediately after Trump’s election, the NYCLU released our anti-Trump agenda, calling on state lawmakers to pass urgent legislation to protect immigrant New Yorkers, LGBTQ+ rights, and reproductive freedom while safeguarding our privacy and defending the right to protest.

This report highlights our work and successes from 2024 —all of which will be crucial in our fight against hate, bigotry, and attempts to dismantle our democracy, whether those threats emanate from Washington, or right here at home in New York.

Onward,
Donna Lieberman

2024 IN REVIEW

Our fight for the civil rights and civil liberties of New Yorkers goes on undeterred, and the big wins we scored for democracy, free speech, LGBTQ+ equality, police reform, privacy protections, and justice in another tough year uniquely positioned us to combat the Trump agenda.

Here are some of our key victories and ongoing battles from 2024:

STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY

Challenging Nassau County Gerrymandering

For far too long, voters of color in Nassau County faced deliberate attempts to dilute their political power through gerrymandered maps that undermined fair representation. But this year, after a hard-fought legal battle, we secured a landmark victory that will reshape the county’s political landscape for years to come. A historic settlement forced Nassau County to replace its discriminatory redistricting map with a fairer one that expands the number of districts with a majority of people of color from four to six, ensuring that Black, Latino, and Asian communities have a real opportunity to elect candidates who represent their interests. As we look ahead to the 2025 elections—the first under these new, fairer maps—we remain committed to ensuring every voter has an equal say in our democracy.

Protecting Free Speech on College Campuses

On March 2024, the NYCLU and Palestine Legal filed a lawsuit against Columbia University for unlawfully suspending its chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace. The suspensions were triggered after the groups engaged in peaceful protest on campus. Our lawsuit made clear that universities should be havens for robust debate, discussion, and learning—not sites of censorship where administrators, donors, and politicians squash political discourse they don’t approve of. Students protesting at private colleges still have the right to fair, equal treatment—and we are defending that right in court.

PROMOTING EQUALITY

Passing the New York State Equal Rights Amendment

In November 2024, the NYCLU celebrated a historic victory with the passage of the state Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which amended the state constitution to protect reproductive rights and ensure access to abortion care. Throughout the campaign, the NYCLU played a leading role, mobilizing voters and educating the public about the importance of this crucial measure. We succeeded despite an avalanche of opposition- funded misinformation designed to turn people against the ERA. But in the end, New Yorkers stood up for women, LGBTQ+, immigrant, and disabled New Yorkers by approving the most progressive and comprehensive state ERA in the country. The NYCLU’s advocacy and legal expertise were crucial to the success of the ERA, which affirms our state’s commitment to safeguarding essential civil liberties for all.

Defending Immigrant Rights in the Face of Trump’s Xenophobic Agenda

During his campaign, Trump proudly pledged to arrest immigrants, vastly expand immigration detention centers, and carry out the largest mass deportation program in our nation’s history. State and local authorities are a centerpiece of Trump’s deportation agenda.

After Trump won the election, the NYCLU renewed our call for legislators to pass the New York for All Act. This legislation would bring New York in line with states like Illinois, Washington, and California that refuse to use their resources for federal immigration enforcement. The legislature must also pass the Dignity Not Detention Act to keep local jails from renting out cell space to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for profit. We continue to leverage our thousands of on-the-ground and online supporters to push lawmakers to prioritize these bills, as well as legislation that would make sure New Yorkers facing deportation have a lawyer by their side.

We also updated, promoted, and shared several Know Your Rights (KYR) materials that are especially critical under Trump including our KYR on “What to Do if You’re Stopped by Immigration Officers.”

Fighting for Trans Rights with the Roller Rebels

The NYCLU is easily the most prominent voice fighting against and raising the alarm over Nassau County’s attempt to bar trans women and girls from county-run athletic facilities.

When Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman issued his executive order implementing the trans ban, the NYCLU filed a successful lawsuit on behalf of the Long Island Roller Rebels team to block it. Then we filed another lawsuit challenging the law passed by the county legislature codifying the language that was in Blakeman’s order.

Our lawsuit garnered nationwide coverage including multiple articles and a feature story in the New York Times. Our campaign alongside the Roller Rebels—who are a roller derby team that includes trans athletes—won the gold medal for the Anthem Award’s best Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Local Awareness Campaign.

PURSUING JUSTICE

Providing Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in the Criminal Legal System

In a landmark victory for those with opioid use disorder, the NYCLU reached a settlement in March 2024 related to Jefferson County’s discriminatory policy of denying medication- assisted treatment to individuals in its custody. This class action lawsuit, which represents a significant first in New York, secured a new policy requiring the Jefferson County Jail to provide medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) to any eligible individual. This settlement ensures that people entering jail with a current prescription can continue their treatment, and those without a prescription can request an evaluation. The settlement also mandates that patients cannot be forcibly withdrawn from MOUD unless it is medically necessary.

Keeping the National Guard Out of Our Subways

In February 2024, the NYCLU strongly opposed Governor Hochul’s decision to deploy the National Guard in New York City subways, a move that they argue is an overreach and a threat to civil liberties. The NYCLU criticized the deployment, noting that it escalates the militarization of everyday life and exacerbates the criminalization of marginalized communities, particularly people of color. We expressed concern that the presence of armed National Guard members in subway stations could create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, while failing to address the root causes of subway violence, such as mental health issues and poverty. The NYCLU called on Governor Hochul to focus on more effective, community-based solutions that prioritize safety and dignity for all New Yorkers, instead of relying on militarized responses that undermine constitutional rights. We continue to closely monitor these deployments and to speak out against them.

PROTECTING PRIVACY & AUTONOMY

Pushing Back Against Mask Bans

The NYCLU, along with nearly 100 organizations, condemned efforts to implement mask bans across New York, including a proposed statewide ban and a mask mandate that was signed into law in Long Island’s Nassau County. Partnering with organizations such as the New York State Nurses Association, the Public Health Association of New York State, and other advocacy groups, the NYCLU urged state lawmakers to reject a statewide mask ban, which would strip local governments of the ability to make decisions about public health measures during emergencies. The coalition argued that such a ban would undermine public health protections and violate New Yorkers’ rights to take measures to protect their health. Mask bans are particularly dangerous for those with compromised immune systems. The NYCLU remains committed to speaking out in favor of people’s right to anonymous protest, while defending public health measures that safeguard the wellbeing of all New Yorkers.

Passing the Child Data Protection Act

The NYCLU successfully campaigned for the Child Data Protection Act, which was signed into law last year. As the NYCLU said in its testimony to state lawmakers in support of the bill, the act provides much needed online privacy protections for young people, allowing them to spend time learning and playing online without putting their personal data at risk. The law’s stronger privacy protections for young people are an important first step on the road to universal baseline privacy protections that ensure that everyone regardless of age has meaningful control over their personal information online.

By the Numbers

Seek Justice:

We filed 28 lawsuits and amicus briefs in support of civil liberties and reviewed 1,465 legal requests for referral or further investigation.

Stand United:

We brought together 82,545 members and 100,420 donors across New York’s 62 counties.

Take Action:

We rallied 336,874 e-activists, 137,633 social media followers, and 11,231 volunteers across the state, and monitored 161 protests with 284 trained protest monitors.

Financial Statement

FY25: April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025

In the face of many challenges and uncertainties, our network of supporters has remained strong—helping us to achieve our fundraising goals and setting us on the path to success in 2025.

Last year, 76% of our total organizational expenses went directly toward salaries and benefits for our diverse staff made up of over 100 attorneys, policy experts, field organizers, communications and fundraising professionals, and administrative specialists. Investing in our employees means investing in legal services for vulnerable New Yorkers, grassroots organizing and community outreach, policy research and advocacy, and so much more.

And the NYCLU achieved top ratings from Charity Navigator and GuideStar, two independent charity assessment organizations that provide insights to nonprofit organizations’ financial transparency and accountability.

Support and Revenue – $17,198,825

• $8,076,275 National ACLU
• $6,119,914 Donations, Grants & Membership
• $3,002,636 Bequest & Other Income

Expense – $15,442,783

• $10,786,634 Program
• $3,233,711 Management & General
• $1,422,438 Fundraising

Please Note: These are unaudited financials through December 31, 2024. Our audited financial statements will be made public upon filing at a later date.