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President’s Pro-Marriage Equality Statement a ‘Watershed Moment’

“The president’s statement in support of marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples represents a watershed moment in the fight for justice for all Americans. With his short interview this afternoon on ABC, Barack Obama became the first sitting president to recognize that no one is threatened when all families are protected by the same laws and responsibilities.” --ACLU/SC Executive Director Hector Villagra

Suing California Secretary of State for Excluding Minor Political Parties from November Presidential Election Ballot

The ACLU of Southern California is filing suit against California Secretary of State Debra Bowen challenging California’s restrictions on minor political parties seeking to have their nominees for President and Vice President included on November’s presidential election ballot. The case was filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Political groups cannot place their candidates on California’s ballot unless they are formally recognized by the State as political parties. Yet the deadline for qualifying as a recognized political party is more than 10 months before the Presidential election. Since California first enacted the early party-qualification deadline in 1953, only seven new political parties have met the qualification standards, and only one new party has done so since 1995.

SCOTUS Should Strike Down Arizona's SB 1070

“Arizona’s SB 1070 violates the Constitution, encourages racial profiling of Latinos and turns police officers into immigration agents. It violates the dignity of those caught in the crosshairs and allows the demonization of a particular group of people because of the color of their skin."
Read the full statement from ACLU/SC Executive Director Hector Villagra.

L.A. jail confronted by allegations of abuse


CBS News: "Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said this week he may close at least part of the L.A. County Men's Central Jail -- the country's largest jail -- in the face of allegations of abuse."

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