A Kentucky group that seeks to protect individual freedoms is reporting an increase in support following the presidential election.
The national American Civil Liberties Union said it raked in more than $7 million in the week following the presidential election. A portion of that will trickle down to the Kentucky chapter. The state chapter has received donations from every corner of the state since the election.
ACLU of Kentucky Executive Director Michael Aldridge said there are a lot of unknowns as a new administration transitions to the White House. "Our new president has never held public office, and there's some fear that he's going to over-reach or encroach on a lot of individual rights in a lot of different ways."
Aldridge said the state ACLU has received donations from around the country. He said he doesn’t think the outcome of the presidential election is the only reason.
He also credits the new Republican majority in the General Assembly and end-of-year charitable giving. "We've had divided chambers in the Kentucky General Assembly for decades. There was a type of checks and balance that happened on a lot of legislation, and now that's gone."
Aldridge said with the state House and Senate both under GOP control, the ACLU will be playing a lot of defense when the session begins in January. Republicans are expected to vote on bills aimed at limiting abortions and allowing business owners to refuse service to homosexuals based on their religious beliefs.
The Fairness Campaign and Planned Parenthood are also reporting an uptick in donations over the past few weeks.
