Defending Our Civil Rights

As a member of the Judiciary Committee and Vice Chair of the Public Safety Committee, I frequently hear legislation with significant implications for our civil liberties, especially for marginalized and vulnerable communities. As demonstrated by my long-term involvement with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), including six years on the board of directors for the ACLU of Minnesota, I am committed to defending and improving civil rights for Minnesotans across the state. 

This year, I was appointed to the Legislative Commission on Data Practices and Personal Data Privacy, which was created to study issues relating to government data practices and individuals’ personal data privacy rights and to review legislation impacting data practices, data security, and personal data privacy. I have been proud to chief author several successful pieces of legislation to protect data privacy, including the 2021 Student Data Privacy Act and the 2023 bill to create an annual reporting requirement for the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s Fusion Center, which collects and shares extensive data on private citizens. 

I am a proud advocate for the fight for racial justice, the right to protest, LGBTQ+ equality, freedom of speech, and privacy rights. Many of these rights have come under attack in recent years, and Minnesotans deserve a Representative who is willing to provide unwavering support and who takes action to protect these liberties.