News & Commentary written by Kanya Bennett

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Kanya Bennett

Former Senior Legislative Counsel

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Bio

Kanya Bennett is a former senior legislative counsel with the ÌÒ×ÓÊÓÆµ, serving from 2014 to 2020. In this capacity, Kanya advanced criminal justice reform at the federal level.

Prior to joining the ACLU, Kanya spent over three years at the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy as the Director of Policy Development and Programming where she focused on civil and criminal justice issues. Kanya also served as Counsel to the House Judiciary Committee for over eight years and completed a  fellowship at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation immediately following her graduation from law school. She holds an undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and earned her law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.


Featured work

Jun 14, 2018

Say Her Name: Recognizing Police Brutality Against Black Women

Say Her Name: Recognizing Police Brutality Against Black Women

May 25, 2018

The House Could Soon Give Jeff Sessions $50 Million to Wage the War on Drugs

The House Could Soon Give Jeff Sessions $50 Million to Wage the War on Drugs

May 17, 2018

Congress Wants More Protections for Cops While Ignoring Police Reform

Congress Wants More Protections for Cops While Ignoring Police Reform

Apr 24, 2018

Trump’s Actions Undermine His Rhetoric About Second Chances

Trump’s Actions Undermine His Rhetoric About Second Chances

Sep 18, 2017

Jeff Sessions Is Dismantling the Justice Department’s Community Policing Initiative When We Need It Most

Jeff Sessions Is Dismantling the Justice Department’s Community Policing Initiative When We Need It Most

Sep 13, 2017

The House Tells Sessions’ Justice Department It Will Not Stand for Civil Asset Forfeiture

The House Tells Sessions’ Justice Department It Will Not Stand for Civil Asset Forfeiture

Sep 11, 2017

Here’s How Communities and City Councils Can Reject Trump’s Militarization of Local Police

Here’s How Communities and City Councils Can Reject Trump’s Militarization of Local Police

Aug 28, 2017

Trump Just Gave Thousands of Bayonets And Hundreds of Grenade Launchers Back To Police

Trump Just Gave Thousands of Bayonets And Hundreds of Grenade Launchers Back To Police

Aug 8, 2017

As We Remember the Militarized Response to the Ferguson Uprising, Trump Says Civilian Police Are Making ‘Good Use’ of Military Weapons

As We Remember the Militarized Response to the Ferguson Uprising, Trump Says Civilian Police Are Making ‘Good Use’ of Military Weapons

Jul 26, 2017

Even Fake Law Enforcement Agencies Can Get Weapons of War for ‘Policing’

Even Fake Law Enforcement Agencies Can Get Weapons of War for ‘Policing’