Resolutions calling for criminal penalties for “anyone who kills a pre-born human being” and supporting “the restoration of gender dysphoric individuals, that they may embrace and be comfortable with their natural biological state” are among the 15 policy resolutions North Dakota Republican Party delegates will be considering during their convention today and tomorrow in Fargo.
The ACLU of North Dakota condemns these proposed party resolutions and is calling on Republican leaders to immediately rescind the harmful and hateful rhetoric the party is considering and instead work for statewide change that will protect and expand the civil rights of all North Dakotans.
While these resolutions are simply statements of the party’s official opinion and not actual binding policy, what the delegates adopt as part of its platform could be a preview of bills legislators will propose during the 2025 legislative session.
“We want to see North Dakota policymakers focus on the real issues that really matter – not stoke the ‘culture wars’ at the expense of our civil rights,” said Cody Schuler, ACLU of North Dakota advocacy manager. “It’s time for our policymakers to mind their own business. Specifically, the business of the state – quality roads, affordable housing, excellent schools and a robust workforce.”
It’s also time for North Dakota voters to advocate for change.
Abortion rights supporters and LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit people and allies are active participants in the political process in North Dakota. They lead rallies, show up to city commission meetings and do their part to make sure the issues affecting their communities are known. Their perspective, concerns and opinions should be respected at the ballot box and on the legislative floor in Bismarck.
“Elected officials may hold the cards, but voters hold the power,” Schuler said. “Every eligible voter must make their voices heard on issues that matter most to them to create a political atmosphere that supports their right to thrive in North Dakota by casting their ballot on Nov. 5 for candidates who will make North Dakota a more equitable place for everyone.”
About the ACLU of North Dakota
The American Civil Liberties Union of North Dakota is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of civil liberties and civil rights. The ACLU of North Dakota is part of a three-state chapter that also includes South Dakota and Wyoming. The team in North Dakota is supported by staff in those states.
The ACLU believes freedoms of press, speech, assembly, and religion, and the rights to due process, equal protection and privacy, are fundamental to a free people. In addition, the ACLU seeks to advance constitutional protections for groups traditionally denied their rights, including people of color, women, and the LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit communities. The ACLU of North Dakota carries out its work through selective litigation, lobbying at the state and local level, and through public education and awareness of what the Bill of Rights means for the people of North Dakota.
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