LaShawn Warren Joins ACLU National Washington Office As Legislative Counsel Responsible for Civil Rights

WASHINGTON — LaShawn Warren has joined the American Civil Liberties Union as a Legislative Counsel in its Washington National Office, where she will focus on civil rights, specifically voting rights, affirmative action and women’s rights.

“Our growing concern for civil rights caused us to create this new position,” said Laura W. Murphy, Director of the ACLU National Washington Office. “LaShawn’s experience and passion will allow us to focus more specifically on any aggressive efforts by the White House and Congress to limit individual freedoms.”

With the growing number of legislative efforts to reform the voting system, Warren will continue the ACLU’s aggressive work with a bipartisan group of House and Senate members to send a comprehensive reform package to President Bush. “We will not allow the clock to run out on election reform,” Warren said.

A graduate of Howard University School of Law, Warren was most recently a Legislative Analyst for the Seattle City Council where she was responsible for writing, analyzing, tracking and reviewing legislation on a variety of issues including civil rights, public safety, minority contracting programs, health and human services and budget.

Warren has also tracked racial profiling legislation and policies on the federal, state and local levels. The resolution and report she prepared with recommendations for the Council to assist them in addressing complaints of racial profiling has been praised by state senators as the most comprehensive legislation passed to address racial profiling in the State of Washington.

“No one should feel they have to live with the denial of basic constitutional freedoms,” Warren said. “As part of the ACLU’s staff, I will have a unique opportunity to influence national policy by defending freedoms guaranteed to everyone under the Constitution. I am thrilled to have this opportunity and look forward to the challenges ahead.”