Rights This Way

There is burgeoning and justified nationwide outrage over automatic license plate readers, or ALPRs. These ubiquitous and invasive devices are singlehandedly destroying any notion we may have of personal privacy. ALPRs capture the movements of millions of innocent New Yorkers every day. They build detailed location records, revealing where we go to work, whom we meet, which health care providers we visit, which places of worship we frequent, and which protests we attend.On this episode, we talk to two experts about how license plate readers work, what makes them so dangerous, and about state and nationwide efforts to put much needed guardrails around their use.Please download, rate, review and subscribe to rights this way. It will help more people find this podcast. In this episode, you'll hear:00:00 Intro02:05 What are ALPRs and how do they work? 04:20 Why ALPRs are dangerous 06:20 How Flock scaled up surveillance 08:10 A nationwide backlash grows 10:45 Why left and right both oppose ALPRs 14:00 Who's still defending ALPRs? 16:45 Do ALPRs make us safer? 20:50 NYCLU's lawsuits in Westchester and Scarsdale23:25 Bans and guardrails nationwide 26:00 New York's ALPR bill and the Troy win 28:20 How to get involvedResources: Get license plate readers out of New York: https://action.aclu.org/send-message/demand-alpr-guardrails-new-york ALPR campaign page: https://www.nyclu.org/resources/campaigns-actions/campaigns/get-alprs-out-of-new-york ALPR blog: https://www.nyclu.org/commentary/how-license-plate-readers-track-your-every-move Westchester lawsuit: https://www.nyclu.org/commentary/westchester-police-are-tracking-millions-of-drivers ACLU’s ALPR toolkit: https://www.aclu.org/get-the-flock-out-toolkit For 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 Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Donald Trump waging war on free speech and ICE officers killing people in broad daylight, our right to protest is more important than ever. But too often when New Yorkers take to the streets to speak out, they are met with NYPD violence. Often, the officers leading the anti-protest charge are part of the NYPD's notoriously brutal Strategic Response Group, or "the SRG."The SRG's training specifically names anti-Trump demonstrators, the Black Lives Matter movement, and Occupy Wall Street as examples of "violent" protesters. The unit's members have demonstrated a clear pattern of targeting people of color, using excessive force, and generating higher rates of misconduct complaints compared to other officers.On this episode, we discuss the SRG with comedian and political satirist Walter Masterson. And we also get into the history of the unit and legislation designed to curtail the SRG’s violence with NYCLU expert and organizer Isabelle Leyva.Please download, rate, review and subscribe to Rights This Way. It will help more people find this podcast. In this episode, you'll hear:00:00 Intro 02:18 What is the NYPD's Strategic Response Group? 04:14 SRG training that targets racial justice and left-wing protesters 05:13 How Walter got involved in the campaign against the SRG 07:10 Walter's run-ins with the SRG at protests 09:22 What Isabelle has seen the SRG do on the streets 12:33 Walter's satirical testimony at City Council 16:15 How lawmakers react to the testimony 19:42 What the CURB Act would do 21:58 Where the CURB Act stands and what's blocking it 23:56 How listeners can help pass the CURB ActResources:Follow Walter on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@waltermasterson?lang=en Sign up for our anti-SRG campaign: nyclu.org/srg-signup Tell Council Members to support the CURB Act: https://action.aclu.org/send-message/curb-nypd-abuse-protesters Learn more about the SRG: https://www.nyclu.org/commentary/new-yorkers-right-to-protest-is-under-attack-heres-how-a-new-bill-can-protect-it More on the buffer zone legislation that Walter mentions: https://www.nyclu.org/podcast/inside-the-struggle-against-anti-protest-buffer-zone-lawsFor 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 Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The impact of a person’s incarceration reaches far beyond the confines of their cell. Children lose parents. Families lose a breadwinner and struggle to meet their needs. Businesses lose workers. Humane treatment that respects the rights and dignity of incarcerated people and prepares them to re-enter society, benefits both incarcerated people and their communities.On this episode, we speak to a New Yorker with personal experience visiting a family member who was incarcerated. He explains why in-person visits are so important and why a bill recently passed by the state legislature would help families like his. And we also talk to an NYCLU expert about this legislation and several other bills designed to improve conditions for incarcerated New Yorkers and their loved ones.Please download, rate review and subscribe to Rights This Way. It will help more people find this podcast.In this episode, you'll hear:00:00 Intro02:03 The Protect In-Person Visits Bill05:58 Elijah's story: visiting his stepfather in prison12:31 The Tampons Aren't Contraband Act17:46 The Visiting Rights Bill20:02 Commissary prices24:19 The anti-shackling bill26:34 How to support these bills30:04 Wrap-upResources:Tell Hochul to sign the bills we discuss on this episode: https://action.aclu.org/send-message/protect-rights-incarcerated-and-detained-new-yorkersTake action to protect in-person visits and find resources for children of incarcerated parents:  https://www.susu-osborne.org/protect-visitingOsborne Association serves individuals, families, and communities impacted by the criminal legal system: https://www.osborneny.orgLearn more about the prison conditions legislation we mention: https://www.nyclu.org/commentary/why-these-bills-to-improve-prison-conditions-should-matter-to-all-of-usFor 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 Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI is everywhere, including in our schools. But what does the rapid deployment of AI mean for the 900,000 students in New York City’s public schools? What are the guardrails in place for its use? What are the dangers of AI? What are the everyday changes taking place because of its implementation?Earlier this year the New York City Department of Education (DOE) rolled out guidance for the use of AI. The backlash from students, parents and pretty much everyone was so severe that in June, the DOE postponed their planned rollout of an AI "Playbook," which would have been a more comprehensive version of the "guidance." This postponement was a win for the movement to rein in AI use in schools and it’s a clear example of the high-stakes around this contentious issue.On this episode, we’re joined by students from the NYCLU’s Teen Activist Project, who have first-hand experience with how AI is being used in their classrooms. We ask them about how AI is used in their schools, their concerns about the technology, what needs to change about the use of AI in schools, and a lot more.Please, download, rate, review, and subscribe to Rights This Way. It will help more people find this podcast.In this episode, you'll hear:0:00 Intro02:10 How students feel about AI in schools04:20 What’s wrong with the DOE’s AI guidance?06:30 How AI is already showing up in classrooms08:00 Why some schools don’t need AI09:50 Student surveillance: GoGuardian and Smart Pass13:20 The biggest problem: lack of transparency16:10 AI, cheating, and the loss of foundational skills20:20 What happens if AI takes over education?23:10 The $57,000 AI teacher26:50 What should a better AI policy look like?30:30 OutroResources:More on the spying powers of GoGuardian: https://www.nyclu.org/commentary/software-could-be-spying-nyc-studentsMore on the creepy hall pass technology SmartPass: https://www.nyclu.org/commentary/why-is-my-school-tracking-me-when-i-use-the-bathroomFor 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 Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The World Cup is supposed to be a time when billions of people across the planet join together to celebrate their love for the global game of soccer. It’s a moment for people of different ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, and nationalities to celebrate what brings them closer, and to enjoy the world’s most popular sport.But President Trump has other ideas. He used the World Cup to bully, divide, spread fear in immigrant communities, and even demand special treatment from the tournament’s governing body. On this episode, we speak with Paola Mendoza, filmmaker, author of the books Sanctuary and Solis, and one of the organizers of the No ICE in the Cup campaign. The campaign is a national call to action demanding the World Cup remain joyful, safe and secure for all to enjoy.No ICE in the Cup also makes clear that ICE – that’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – has no place near the World Cup festivities.Please download, rate, review, and subscribe to Rights This Way. It will help more people find this podcast.In this episode, you'll hear:(0:00) Intro(2:24) What is No ICE in the Cup?(4:39) The need for No ICE in the Cup(7:43) Trump’s threats to the World Cup(8:42) No ICE in the Cup’s work with small businesses(9:36) How the World Cup revitalized immigrant pride(13:55) No ICE in the Cup artworks(15:50) No ICE in the Cup community soccer tournaments(17:11) The power of joy and community in organizing(21:20) Paola’s books and how to stay in touchResources:No ICE in the Cup campaign page: https://noiceinthecup.us/Follow Paola @PaolaMendoza and her website: https://iampaolamendoza.com/artist/Paola’s books Sanctuary and Solis: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/610887/sanctuary-by-paola-mendoza-and-abby-sher/https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/707297/solis-by-paola-mendoza-and-abby-sher/Previous episode on politics in sports: https://www.nyclu.org/podcast/trans-athletes-trump-and-the-right-to-play-sportsFor 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 Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.