ACLU Next Generation Society

The Next Generation Society Happy Hour is a wonderful opportunity to meet and connect with others who share a passion for protecting civil liberties.

We hope you can join us on Tuesday, March 3rd from 5:30 – 8:00 PM at SPIN Ping Pong Club (344 N. State St.) for an evening of fun, connection, and celebration of the work of the Next Generation Society.

Tickets start at $45 and include a selection of craft beer and wine, hors d’oeuvres, and all the ping pong you can handle! We also have a special offer: all Next Generation Society membership purchases include Happy Hour ticket(s) at no additional cost!

Our third Membership Drive Spotlight features Next Generation Society Board Member, Isabel Robertson! Learn more about Isabel below:

Q: Why do you support the ACLU and Next Gen?
A: I support the ACLU because of their integrity and commitment to the long game. They’re determined to make this country better and they make me believe that that’s possible, even when it feels far away!

Q: What is bringing you hope at this moment?
A: All acts of community and solidarity bring me hope: things like friends delivering meals to strangers through mutual aid networks and showing up in subzero weather to protect their neighbors. Every time someone chooses to show their humanity, it’s a spark of hope.

Q: Why is it so important for people to take action on the issues they care about right now?
A: It’s always important to take action for what you believe in! This moment is not unprecedented. Humanity has always been cruel and unjust, but it has also always been resilient and brave and beautiful. We have roadmaps for how to get through moments like this one and all of those roadmaps are stories of action.

Get to know our amazing Next Gen board members at our upcoming Next Generation Society Happy Hour! For more information on tickets and memberships, visit the link in our bio.

Our second Membership Drive Spotlight features Next Generation Society Board Member, Sarah Yi! Learn more about Sarah below:

Q: Why do you support the ACLU and Next Gen?
A: I support the ACLU and The Next Generation Society because it is so important, now more than ever, to support organizations that are doing the work to safeguard our civil liberties. Being part of a larger advocacy group helps me feel connected, understood, and instills in me a sense of belonging and community during these unprecedented times. For decades, the ACLU has worked tirelessly to fight back against injustice of all forms, and I’m proud to stand in solidarity with this organization.

Q: What is bringing you hope at this moment?
A: I’ve noticed that so many more brands, influential public figures, and corporations have started to vocalize their contempt for this current administration, even at the expense of alienating their audience/customer base. This is giving me hope knowing that more and more people are starting to feel compelled to speak out, which will only continue to galvanize the community at-large. Additionally, I feel reassured knowing that nothing lasts forever (not even tyrannical governments), and I do truly believe that there are brighter days ahead.

Q: Why is it so important for people to take action on the issues they care about right now?
A: It is so important for people to take action on the issues that they care about because it empowers others to speak up and get involved. It also helps connect you with others who are just as passionate about the topics that are near and dear to your heart.

Get to know Sarah and other Next Gen members at our upcoming Next Generation Society Happy Hour! For more information on tickets and memberships, visit the link in our bio.

Welcome to Week 2 of the 2026 Next Gen Membership Drive. This week we are highlighting the ’s work defending the right to protest and a free press. Through Chicago Headline Club v. Noem, the ACLU of Illinois is challenging federal officials’ violent suppression of journalists, legal observers, clergy, and peaceful demonstrators during protests at the Broadview ICE facility.

Peaceful protesters and members of the press were met with excessive force simply for exercising their First Amendment rights. The Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, assembly, and the press –protections that are essential to holding the government accountable and exposing abuses of power.

When protest is treated as a threat instead of a right, democracy itself is weakened. Stand with the ACLU as we fight to protect dissent, defend constitutional freedoms, and ensure that no one is punished for speaking out.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the ACLU Power to the People event at Pilot Project Brewing! It was so inspiring to gather with our community to hear updates about the ACLU’s work, including challenges to federal abuse of power.

Let’s keep the momentum going! Join us at the Next Gen Fall Fundraiser on October 23 at the Ivy Room. Together we’ll continue the conversation by taking action on the issues that matter most, building protest kits, and fueling the fight for civil rights and civil liberties. Tickets & sponsorships are available at the link in our bio!

10 years of Next Gen, 10 years of fighting for Justice. Last night, our community came together to show what we fight for — let’s keep that momentum going!

Check the link in our bio for recent ACLU-IL actions and upcoming events. And don’t forget to purchase or renew your Next Generation Society Membership before the end of our membership drive!