Attending a Legislative Coffee or Cracker Barrel is a great way to get involved in your community and show South Dakota's lawmakers you're paying attention.
January 11, 2023 - 9:00am

This list is updated frequently, if you see we're missing some details please email southdakota@aclu.org promptly. Please be aware that the organizations hosting these legislative coffees and cracker barrels are not affiliated in any way with the ACLU.

Before attending any in-person legislative coffees or cracker barrels, we recommend taking all appropriate COVID related safety precautions. Many of these public forums are live streamed by local media, or local chambers. Be sure to do your research to find out if your district provides this feature. 

Legislative Coffee - Mitchell area 
District 20
Friday, Jan. 27 at 8 a.m. CT
Chamber of Commerce
601 N Main St.

Legislative Cracker Barrel - Rapid City area 
Districts, TBA
Saturday, Jan. 28 at 9 a.m. MT
Western Dakota Technical College | Event Center
800 Mickelson Dr.

Legislative Coffee - Brandon area 
District 2
Saturday, Jan. 28 at 9 a.m. CT
Brandon Golf Course
2100 E Aspen Blvd. 

Legislative Coffee - Vermillion area 
District 17
Saturday, Jan. 28 at 9 a.m. CT
City Hall 
24 Center St.

Legislative Coffee - Sioux Falls area 
District 6, 9, & 14
Saturday, Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. CT
The Hub at Southeast Technical College 
2001 N. Career Ave. 

Legislative Cracker Barrel - Rapid City area 
Districts, TBA
Saturday, Feb. 11 at 9 a.m. MT
Dahl Arts Center
713 7th St. 

Legislative Coffee - Brookings area 
District 7 & 8
Saturday, Feb. 11 at 9 a.m. CT
Brookings City and County Government Center
520 3rd St.

Legislative Coffee - Sioux Falls area
District 10, 11, & 12
Saturday, Feb. 11 at 10 a.m. CT
The Hub at Southeast Technical College 
2001 N. Career Ave. 

Legislative Coffee - Brookings area 
District 7 & 8
Saturday, Feb. 25 at 9 a.m. CT
Brookings City and County Government Center
520 3rd St.

Legislative Coffee - Sioux Falls area 
District 2, 13, & 15
Saturday, Feb. 25 at 10 a.m. CT
The Hub at Southeast Technical College 
2001 N. Career Ave. 

Legislative Cracker Barrel - Rapid City area 
Districts, TBA
Saturday, March 4 at 9 a.m. MT
Western Dakota Technical College | Event Center
800 Mickelson Dr. 

The organizations hosting these legislative coffees and cracker barrels are not affiliated in any way with the ACLU of South Dakota or the ACLU National Offices. Before attending any in-person legislative coffees or cracker barrels, we recommend taking all appropriate COVID-related safety precautions.

Stay informed

Sample questions for your Legislative Coffee or Cracker Barrel

A.Sample questions for your Legislative Coffee or Cracker Barrel

A.

Anti-trans Legislation Related Questions

  • How do you as an elected official plan to protect the well-being of your transgender constituents when they are targeted by anti-trans bills every single year?
  • How many transgender people, or families with transgender kids who are targeted by anti-trans bills have you spoken with?

Classroom Censorship Related Questions 

  • Do you believe the ability to discuss and debate ideas, even those that some may find uncomfortable, is a crucial part of our democracy?

Reproductive Freedom Related Questions 

  • We hear a lot about the need for personal freedom in South Dakota, but we continue to see bills which aim to severely restrict or entirely remove a pregnant person’s freedom to choose what their future and family looks like. How do you reconcile these two ideas?
  • Studies show that people who are denied an abortion are more likely to experience subsequent poverty, to have insufficient funds to pay for basic living expenses, to have poorer health, and are more likely to be in violent romantic relationships. With these stats in consideration, do you support anti-abortion efforts? 
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