Final Paper

Final Paper: Civic Engagement, Identity and Group Mobilization
Ryleigh Thompson
May 5, 2020
Identity, Service, and American Democracy

Dr. Jonathan Koppell, Dr. Eileen Eisen-Cohen
Arizona State University
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Introduction:
Throughout this course we have examined and defined our own personal identities through
organizations that have been critical to our Democracy and to the American people. On the heels
of a global pandemic and economic crisis, the American people find themselves neck-deep in a
Civil Rights crisis as well. Societal growth does not come without growing pains, and the
necessity of the American Civil Liberties Union has increased with that over the last few years.
The ACLU is an American Nonprofit organization that focuses on protecting the constitutional
rights of all Americans. From its inception during the first Red Scare, the ACLU has built a
reputation of being fiercely dedicated to its principle, defending Liberties even when the subject
matter is unfavorable and/or unpopular. Despite its broad reach and sometimes controversial
works, the ACLU is a goliath in political and social mobilization.
Identity:
Founded in 1920 as a result of the notorious “Palmer Raids” the American Civil Liberties Union
was formed by a group of individuals with the common identity of defending the rights
guaranteed to all Americans under the constitution. The organization has grown exponentially
with it’s focus on modern issues and the rights of marginalized groups. As we discussed in the
beginning of the course with information from Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America is
built on associations, created mostly through common identity to solve community problems.
Rallying around similar identities and beliefs, the ACLU was founded by prominent disability
rights, women’s rights and labor rights advocates such as Helen Keller, Crystal Eastman, Jane
Addams and Elizabeth Flynn. The ACLU has branched into many identifying issues including
disability rights, free speech, immigrants’ rights, prisoners’ rights, voter rights, women’s rights
and LGBTQ rights.

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Civic/Political/Social Engagement:
The American Civil Liberties Union has done an incredibly thorough job at creating a road map
of engagement for all types of volunteers, whether they have only a “few moments to dedicate,
some time or those who are up for anything in order” to help make a difference. A fantastic
example of how the ACLU helps direct the public from social engagement directly into political
engagement is shown in their Systemic Equity Session series of educational and informative
events that are easily accessible to all. After attending one of these events, the host of the session
will follow-up via email to all those in attendance with follow-up steps on how to put the
information they learned to use in their own community. Following an information session on
Financial Inequality and Postal Banking, information was sent including a template of an email
to send to local Senators, scripts for calls to Senate offices and a toolkit with tips for emailing,
calling or meeting with Government officials. The ACLU makes it easy to move from social
engagement into political engagement for even those that may not have the personal tools to feel
confident in making their voice heard for change. This broadens their accessibility to social and
political engagement by inspiring and giving tools to those who want to make a difference in
their own communities.
Mobilization & Social Capital
The ACLU mobilizes the public around the shared American identity of freedom. Freedom to
live, to survive, to love and to exist in a world that may not be welcoming. Engaging individuals
who are LGBTQ, disabled, religious, immigrants, people of color, women or anyone who is
affected by political infringement into the rights guaranteed to them by the US Constitution. In
July of 2018 they launched the ACLU Voter, a mobilization program for their supporters focused
on “channeling the energy of the millions of activists who have joined the ACLU since the 2016
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election. ACLU Voters will receive a steady drum beat of voter information, including where
and when to register to vote, key election dates, candidate scorecards, details on how races up
and down the ticket will impact civil rights, and ways to take action in the 2018 election cycle”.
This program came on the heels of the 2016 Election and the disastrous results of the Trump Era
on Human Rights. Providing supporters, members, and additional organizations with the
resources to engage politically in a way that aligns with the values that brought them to the
ACLU in the first place.
American Democracy:
The ACLU has showed itself to be an association crucial to American Democracy. Toqueville
suggested that “some of the early associations in America carried out critical functions”. Created
specifically to engage within the political system, impacting federal policy and promoting
political engagement with their supporters. As a legal organization, the ACLU works hard
lobbying for policy change and protecting civil rights within the court systems.
Summary:
In the 100 years since the birth of the ACLU and the valiant battle to defend the rights of
Americans, the goals of the ACLU continue to evolve in an inclusive and accepting way. With
the evolution of rights in America, the ACLU shows itself time and time again it is necessity in
the modern era of American Democracy. Despite the effects of a global pandemic, the ACLU
has found new and creative ways to engage its members and broaden its reach for supporters,
even those with limited time and resources, giving everyone an opportunity to make a difference
on the issues they care about most.

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Works Cited
American Civil Liberties Union. “ACLU History.” American Civil Liberties Union, 2018,
www.aclu.org/about/aclu-history.
“ACLU Launches Nationwide Voter Education and Mobilization Program.” American Civil
Liberties Union, 2018, www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-launches-nationwide-voter-
education-and-mobilization-program.
History.com Editors. “ACLU.” HISTORY, 19 June 2020, www.history.com/topics/gay-
rights/aclu.
Nerman, Susan H. “Crystal Eastman, The ACLU’s Underappreciated Founding Mother.” ACLU,
2018, www.aclu.org/issues/free-speech/crystal-eastman-aclus-underappreciated-
founding-mother.
“Tell Your Senator: We Need Postal Banking Now!” PeoplePower.Org, 2020,
go.peoplepower.org/letter/tell-your-senator-postal-banking-now/?
source=ppem_92132&t=2&akid=92132%2E3940655%2E4DtbTw.
Walker, Sam. “Conscientious Objectors.” ACLU, June 2018, www.aclu.org/issues/free-
speech/conscientious-objectors.

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Final Paper: Civic Engagement, Identity and Group Mobilization

Identity, Service, and American Democracy

works, the ACLU is a goliath in political and social mobilization.

and LGBTQ rights.

their own communities.

Mobilization & Social Capital

ACLU in the first place.

on the issues they care about most.

Liberties Union, 2018, www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-launches-nationwide-voter-

History.com Editors. “ACLU.” HISTORY, 19 June 2020, www.history.com/topics/gay-

“Tell Your Senator: We Need Postal Banking Now!” PeoplePower.Org, 2020,

Walker, Sam. “Conscientious Objectors.” ACLU, June 2018, www.aclu.org/issues/free-

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