The ACLU has long been a stalwart defender of the rights of racial minorities nationwide, and has played a key role in the historic court cases, such as Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, which threw out separate but equal education as a violation of the equal protection clause of the Constitution.

That landmark case mandated integration in classrooms across the land, and in many subsequent cases, the ACLU continues to fight for racial justice.

What's Happening in Maine:

In the most recent legislative session, the MCLU worked with the NAACP on a key priority of both groups: strengthening the laws to guarantee that the police do not stop people simply because of their race.  As a result of extensive dialogue between the civil rights community and law enforcement leaders, the Legislature overwhelmingly passed a bill that sets up a committee to investigate and monitor the incidence of racial profiling in the state.  The committee will include the Public Safety Commissioner, law enforcement professionals, and members designated by the civil rights community, and will be co-chaired by a person designated from the local chapters of the NAACP. It will issue an annual report, beginning in 2010.

This legislation resulted from effective cooperation between the civil rights community and leaders in law enforcement, which will help ensure that systems are in place to ensure that racial profiling is not tolerated in this state.

What's Happening Nationally:

The national ACLU's Racial Justice Program provides up-to-date news and resources on racial profiling, affirmative action, criminal justice, and education.