Alan-uplc
@alan-uplc.bsky.social
Civil rights lawyer, representing people in prison whose rights are violated by prison officials, tenants facing illegal evictions, and disabled people denied social security.
Reposted by Alan-uplc
In a big win for the innocence community, last month New Jersey banned the admission of the “Shaken Baby Syndrome” testimony in courtrooms. SBS, now considered as “debunked science” has put hundreds of innocent parents in prison and on death row.
Read more: https://bit.ly/4jbNPgK
Read more: https://bit.ly/4jbNPgK
New Jersey Supreme Court Rejects ‘Shaken Baby Syndrome’
The first ruling of its kind in the country could give people convicted based on SBS testimony a new shot at freedom.
bit.ly
December 27, 2025 at 6:11 PM
In a big win for the innocence community, last month New Jersey banned the admission of the “Shaken Baby Syndrome” testimony in courtrooms. SBS, now considered as “debunked science” has put hundreds of innocent parents in prison and on death row.
Read more: https://bit.ly/4jbNPgK
Read more: https://bit.ly/4jbNPgK
Follow the money.
Spoiler: It isn’t private prison companies (horrific as they are).
Spoiler: It isn’t private prison companies (horrific as they are).
While U.S. families struggle through an affordability crisis, mass incarceration still costs taxpayers $182 billion a year.
That's a lot of money that could be spent on communities instead of cages.
That's a lot of money that could be spent on communities instead of cages.
December 27, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Follow the money.
Spoiler: It isn’t private prison companies (horrific as they are).
Spoiler: It isn’t private prison companies (horrific as they are).
Reposted by Alan-uplc
What Happened When I Filed a Sexual Abuse Claim in Prison
What Happened When I Filed a Sexual Abuse Claim in Prison
After an investigation, my sexual abuse claim was found unsubstantiated. The process made me feel like reporting the abuse wasn’t worth it.
prisonjournalismproject.org
December 24, 2025 at 6:11 PM
What Happened When I Filed a Sexual Abuse Claim in Prison
A few pix from my recent visits to prisons in southern Illinois, representing students who allege the IDOC wrongfully barred them from completing their degrees.
Side note: when I arrived in the area it was -5. When I left four days later it was 55!
Side note: when I arrived in the area it was -5. When I left four days later it was 55!
December 24, 2025 at 7:04 PM
A few pix from my recent visits to prisons in southern Illinois, representing students who allege the IDOC wrongfully barred them from completing their degrees.
Side note: when I arrived in the area it was -5. When I left four days later it was 55!
Side note: when I arrived in the area it was -5. When I left four days later it was 55!
A few pix from our recent vacation in Tanzania.
December 24, 2025 at 7:02 PM
A few pix from our recent vacation in Tanzania.
Reposted by Alan-uplc
Breaking: Abigail Spanberger wins Virginia Governor race, flipping the seat from red to blue.
(Source: @decisiondeskhq.bsky.social)
(Source: @decisiondeskhq.bsky.social)
November 5, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Breaking: Abigail Spanberger wins Virginia Governor race, flipping the seat from red to blue.
(Source: @decisiondeskhq.bsky.social)
(Source: @decisiondeskhq.bsky.social)
Reposted by Alan-uplc
Trump hasn’t lowered prices, or ended the war in Ukraine, or released the Epstein files.
But he has cut taxes for billionaires and instituted a program of heartless cruelty. And that’s all Lutz heard.
But he has cut taxes for billionaires and instituted a program of heartless cruelty. And that’s all Lutz heard.
July 28, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Trump hasn’t lowered prices, or ended the war in Ukraine, or released the Epstein files.
But he has cut taxes for billionaires and instituted a program of heartless cruelty. And that’s all Lutz heard.
But he has cut taxes for billionaires and instituted a program of heartless cruelty. And that’s all Lutz heard.
Reposted by Alan-uplc
Pretrial detention is a public safety concern.
It makes people lose jobs, housing & government benefits – life-altering consequences that judges ignore.
How does this leave anyone better off?
www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2024/08...
It makes people lose jobs, housing & government benefits – life-altering consequences that judges ignore.
How does this leave anyone better off?
www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2024/08...
July 27, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Pretrial detention is a public safety concern.
It makes people lose jobs, housing & government benefits – life-altering consequences that judges ignore.
How does this leave anyone better off?
www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2024/08...
It makes people lose jobs, housing & government benefits – life-altering consequences that judges ignore.
How does this leave anyone better off?
www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2024/08...
Reposted by Alan-uplc
Chicago is hard core. Love it.
June 14, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Chicago is hard core. Love it.
Reposted by Alan-uplc
Chicago renters: Know your rights! @injusticewatch.org's latest guide breaks down what to do if you face retaliation, harassment, or unsafe conditions. Document everything, get support, & demand safe, decent housing!
Answers to Chicago renters’ common questions
Injustice Watch wrapped up its workshop series Know Your Building, Know Your Landlord last month, with nearly 100 people attending to learn how to find
www.injusticewatch.org
June 15, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Chicago renters: Know your rights! @injusticewatch.org's latest guide breaks down what to do if you face retaliation, harassment, or unsafe conditions. Document everything, get support, & demand safe, decent housing!
Thread
So yes, as currently written the House GOP budget will require half a trillion dollars in cuts to Medicare. That’s T as in trillion and “care” as in Medicare on top of the cuts to Medicaid and Obamacare. So how did this happen? As near as I can tell House Republicans and the …
May 22, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Thread
Come join me Saturday at Haymarket House. A good time will be had by all!
Chicago: Celebrate UPLC’s 45+ years this Saturday! Tickets from just $10. Honor Alan Mills’ retirement & welcome new ED Kate Walz. Enjoy light refreshments, community talks, & a panel with leaders. Register at the link now!
Uptown People's Law Center at Haymarket House
Celebrating 45 Years of Justice and Community Advocacy!
uplc.networkforgood.com
May 16, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Come join me Saturday at Haymarket House. A good time will be had by all!
Reposted by Alan-uplc
Resisting the MAGA curriculum.2
"Democracy has to be born anew every generation, and education is its midwife." — John Dewey.
"Democracy has to be born anew every generation, and education is its midwife." — John Dewey.
Resisting the MAGA curriculum.2
Democratic education—which emphasizes critical thinking, inclusivity, and civic engagement—stands in direct contrast to Trump’s education policies, which focus on racist, anti-'woke' indoctrination.
open.substack.com
May 9, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Resisting the MAGA curriculum.2
"Democracy has to be born anew every generation, and education is its midwife." — John Dewey.
"Democracy has to be born anew every generation, and education is its midwife." — John Dewey.
Reposted by Alan-uplc
If you're not asking these folks if they saw the "mass deportations now" signs & were okay w/that or how they were comfortable with explicit promises to harm trans people or asking how they get their information/who in their lives might've pressured them to support Trump, you need to do better
February 27, 2025 at 2:31 PM
If you're not asking these folks if they saw the "mass deportations now" signs & were okay w/that or how they were comfortable with explicit promises to harm trans people or asking how they get their information/who in their lives might've pressured them to support Trump, you need to do better
Reposted by Alan-uplc
These little vignettes don't push hard enough and aren't exactly very helpful. *Why* did you believe a guy who's been a grifter his entire life? Did you know he's a serial liar/grifter? Why did you feel comfortable w/the promised suffering of others? How much pressure to support him did you face?
She hoped Trump’s victory would change her life, but not like this
Ryleigh Cooper is normally more focused on motherhood than politics. Then came DOGE.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 27, 2025 at 2:25 PM
These little vignettes don't push hard enough and aren't exactly very helpful. *Why* did you believe a guy who's been a grifter his entire life? Did you know he's a serial liar/grifter? Why did you feel comfortable w/the promised suffering of others? How much pressure to support him did you face?
Reposted by Alan-uplc
Trump & Musk are lying—PEPFAR funding has not been restored. Millions of lives hang in the balance, including people cut off mid-HIV treatment.
Fired workers & activists staged a “die-in” to protest this deadly betrayal.
“What we are demanding of Congress is that they stop behaving like doormats…”
Fired workers & activists staged a “die-in” to protest this deadly betrayal.
“What we are demanding of Congress is that they stop behaving like doormats…”
February 27, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Trump & Musk are lying—PEPFAR funding has not been restored. Millions of lives hang in the balance, including people cut off mid-HIV treatment.
Fired workers & activists staged a “die-in” to protest this deadly betrayal.
“What we are demanding of Congress is that they stop behaving like doormats…”
Fired workers & activists staged a “die-in” to protest this deadly betrayal.
“What we are demanding of Congress is that they stop behaving like doormats…”
Last week, the staff at @uplcchicago.bsky.social threw me a “graduation” party celebrating my transition from Executive Director to Of Counsel
February 17, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Last week, the staff at @uplcchicago.bsky.social threw me a “graduation” party celebrating my transition from Executive Director to Of Counsel
Reposted by Alan-uplc
Did you know some state prisons punish consensual sex between incarcerated people at the highest severity level alongside offenses like homicide and inciting a riot?
It's time for the US to break up with the carceral system.
It's time for the US to break up with the carceral system.
Bad Behavior: How prison disciplinary policies manufacture misconduct
A 50-state analysis of state prison discipline policies shows these unfair and unaccountable systems are counterproductive, traumatizing, and lengthen prison stays.
buff.ly
February 14, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Did you know some state prisons punish consensual sex between incarcerated people at the highest severity level alongside offenses like homicide and inciting a riot?
It's time for the US to break up with the carceral system.
It's time for the US to break up with the carceral system.
Reposted by Alan-uplc
America doesn't have the capacity for Trump's cruelty...
Two top officials at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removed from their jobs "amid frustration among Trump officials that officers aren’t ramping up arrests and deportations fast enough"
Two top officials at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removed from their jobs "amid frustration among Trump officials that officers aren’t ramping up arrests and deportations fast enough"
Top ICE officials reassigned amid strain to meet Trump deportation goals
The demotion of top two officials in ICE’s enforcement division comes as officers scramble to ramp up the number of immigration arrests and deportations.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 12, 2025 at 3:26 AM
America doesn't have the capacity for Trump's cruelty...
Two top officials at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removed from their jobs "amid frustration among Trump officials that officers aren’t ramping up arrests and deportations fast enough"
Two top officials at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removed from their jobs "amid frustration among Trump officials that officers aren’t ramping up arrests and deportations fast enough"
Reposted by Alan-uplc
Setting aside the practical questions which are legitimate, the idea of officers trying to make arrest quotas has some pretty dark implications
Trump orders field offices to arrest at least 75 immigrants a day, for a National total of 1200-1500 day. I wonder where field offices are supposed to put all of these people. And who is going to pay for prisoner upkeep.
wapo.st/4huEmz7
wapo.st/4huEmz7
Trump officials issue quotas to ICE officers to ramp up arrests
The administration wants to increase the number of arrests from a few hundred per day to at least 1,200 to 1,500, increasing the chances that non-criminals will be detained.
wapo.st
January 27, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Setting aside the practical questions which are legitimate, the idea of officers trying to make arrest quotas has some pretty dark implications
Reposted by Alan-uplc
Maria Moe had been held in a low-security women's facility with no disturbance, complaints, or disciplinary record. Trump has held her in solitary confinement for the past four days and plans to send Moe, who transitioned at 15, to a men's prison where she risks facing abuse, assault, and rape.
NEW lawsuit from transgender woman in US custody challenges Trump's anti-LGBTQ+ executive order - storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
January 27, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Maria Moe had been held in a low-security women's facility with no disturbance, complaints, or disciplinary record. Trump has held her in solitary confinement for the past four days and plans to send Moe, who transitioned at 15, to a men's prison where she risks facing abuse, assault, and rape.
Reposted by Alan-uplc
"A public speaking course with both traditional and incarcerated students reminded me of what it’s like to be a normal member of society."
This Prison Class Made Me Feel Human Again
I no longer felt like an “inmate.”
prisonjournalismproject.org
January 26, 2025 at 1:08 AM
"A public speaking course with both traditional and incarcerated students reminded me of what it’s like to be a normal member of society."
Reposted by Alan-uplc
It’s started: ICE raided a Chicago-area hospital emergency department today and showed up at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan last week. Share this with any health workers you know. We must know how to respond when ICE comes for our patients and coworkers.
jacobin.com/2025/01/hosp...
jacobin.com/2025/01/hosp...
The Hippocratic Oath May Require Doctors to Disobey Trump
Donald Trump's ICE raids on hospitals endanger immigrants and attack the ethical foundations of medicine. Health workers' fundamental duty is to patients, not the law, and they must resist policies th...
jacobin.com
January 27, 2025 at 2:26 AM
It’s started: ICE raided a Chicago-area hospital emergency department today and showed up at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan last week. Share this with any health workers you know. We must know how to respond when ICE comes for our patients and coworkers.
jacobin.com/2025/01/hosp...
jacobin.com/2025/01/hosp...
Celebration of Karen’s service on the Chicago Board of Ed courtesy of Committeeman Sean Tenner
January 18, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Celebration of Karen’s service on the Chicago Board of Ed courtesy of Committeeman Sean Tenner