We've heard from countless Kansans about your concerns post-November 2024. And understandably — during the 2024 campaign, President-Elect Donald Trump repeatedly pledged to pursue an agenda of extreme attacks on our constitutional rights, targeting democracy, immigrants, reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ equality, and anyone he perceived as a political opponent. 

In Kansas, we know that President-Elect Trump will have enablers and allies at the state level, chief among them state Attorney General Kris Kobach. Given his pledges—and his 2017-2021 term in office, when the ACLU brought 250 lawsuits and 434 legal actions against his administration’s attacks on civil liberties—we take the president-elect and his legislative allies at their word that that they intend to pursue extremism, chaos, and persecution of vulnerable communities.  

At the ACLU of Kansas, we refuse to concede to, collaborate with, or conspire in these attacks on any of the residents of Kansas—and we know thousands of Kansans are with us in preparing to resist every effort by Donald Trump, Kris Kobach, and their extremist allies to strip away our rights.  But at the ACLU of Kansas, our response to a second Trump Administration is not just to defend but actually expand freedom and justice in this state.  We’ve been planning for the possibility of a second Trump Administration, and our response to a second Trump Administration is informed by a century's worth of experience defending freedom in America. 

Stay informed

1. About the Firewall for Freedom

A.About the Firewall for Freedom

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If you're fired up to protect your fellow Kansans — we invite you join us in our response to build a “firewall for freedom” right here in the Free State:

  • Win proactive victories for voting rights and reform of the criminal justice system in key cities and counties that are supportive of civil liberties. We’re committed to expanding voting rights and making our legal system more just. We’re pursuing proactive, rights-expanding work in these places and on these issues because we believe in pursuing policy changes that make people’s lives better. 
  • Mobilize the mass movement of Kansans who oppose extremism to block state legislative attacks on our rights and our democracy. We expect an all-out assault on voting rights, the independence of state courts, abortion access, LGBTQ+ equality, and immigration during the 2025 state legislative session.  While civil rights retain many champions in Topeka, including Gov. Laura Kelly, we will have to continue to mobilize everyday people in unprecedented numbers to resist these Trump-inspired attacks and prevent harmful laws being adopted. Click here to be part of our Firewall for Freedom's state legislative response, from contacting your legislator on key civil liberties issues during the session, to testifying on issues that impact you or that you have experience or expertise with. 

  • Empower Kansans to work together and exercise their influence and power in their local communities, where they can be most effective in directly responding to attacks on their neighbors' and their own rights. The city and county levels are often the heart of protecting against national threats, and individual residents are often the strongest voices in pushing for the change they wish to see, right where they live.

Join us in building a strong firewall for freedom — together, we will respond to this moment in our nation’s history and create the conditions for a more free and just Kansas.  We will work together to ensure that we can successfully defend freedom in Kansas – from Donald Trump, Kris Kobach, the state legislature, and anyone else who threatens it.  

This page will continue to be updated with resources.

2. Take Action to Build the Firewall in Your County

A.Take Action to Build the Firewall in Your County

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3. Take Action to Build the Firewall in Our State

A.Take Action to Build the Firewall in Our State

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4. LGBTQ RIGHTS

A.LGBTQ RIGHTS

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5. RESOURCES FOR IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS:

A.RESOURCES FOR IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS:

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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS/TOOLKITS

6. TAKE DIRECT ACTION

A.TAKE DIRECT ACTION

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  • AIRR volunteer programs (rapid response, accompaniment, etc.)
  • El Centro is looking for Spanish-speaking volunteers to join their Promotores (Promotors)
  • You can also advocate for local protections in your city or county.
    • While Kansas has a law (HB 2717 proposed and passed in the 2023 session) precluding prevention of federal law enforcement, its major provisions provide that local communities can't bar communication with ICE and can't issue municipal IDs. Other provisions involve penalties for fraudulent IDs and voter IDs. Local communities can transfer people to ICE and participate in ICE operations. However, local communities CAN still refuse to comply with ICE detainers and warrants.
    • Example of a welcoming city ordinance (Chicago)

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