Top Stories From the ACLU of Southern California

ACLU/SC Celebrates LGBT History Month

The ACLU of Southern California celebrates LGBT History Month by participating in several events that highlight the LGBT community's rich history and ongoing struggle for equality.

Oct 11, 2011 |  permalink

California Now Has Strongest Law Protecting Reader Privacy in the Digital Era

California Governor Jerry Brown has signed the Reader Privacy Act of 2011, updating reader privacy law to ensure that readers—whether they buy books at traditional bookstores or read e-books online or on electronic devices—will have protection for their privacy. The bill will become law on January 1, 2012.

Oct 3, 2011 |  permalink

ACLU Report Cites Chaplains and Other Civilian Witnesses to Pervasive Abuse of Inmates by Deputies at L.A. County Jails

The ACLU of Southern California is calling for the resignation of Sheriff Lee Baca following the release of its annual Jails Report. The report, released on Wednesday, chronicles a pattern of severe and pervasive abuse of Los Angeles County jail inmates at the hands of deputies. This climate of violence has continued for years under the leadership of Sheriff Lee Baca, who has covered up and ignored the claims of the brutality.

Related

• Jails Report & Videos
• "Baca Must Go": blog post by Peter Eliasberg
• TAKE ACTION: Call for Sheriff Baca's Resignation
• Jails Report press release
• Letter Requesting Broad Federal Investigation of LA County Jails

Sep 28, 2011 |  permalink

ACLU/SC Releases 2011 Annual Report

Sep 23, 2011 |  permalink

Free Speech Threatened by UCI 11 Guilty Verdict

"The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California is deeply troubled by the criminal conviction of ten college students for protesting during a speech by the Israeli ambassador,” said Hector Villagra, Executive Director of the ACLU/SC. “If allowed to stand, this will undoubtedly intimidate students in Orange County and across the state, and discourage them from engaging in any controversial speech or protest for fear of criminal charges."

Sep 23, 2011 |  permalink

ACLU/SC's Jennie Pasquarella to Monitor UAE 5 Trial

Attorney Jennie Pasquarella of the ACLU of Southern California will represent four international human rights organizations as an observer in the trial of five men arrested after calling for democratic reforms in the United Arab Emirates.

Sep 20, 2011 |  permalink

ACLU/SC Supports Cardenas’ Motion to Fix the Daytime Curfew Law

Community Rights Campaign, Public Counsel, and the ACLU of Southern California applaud and fully support City Councilman Tony Cardenas’ motion to change the daytime curfew law that has proved to be detrimental to students and their families and a failure in preventing crime.

Sep 16, 2011 |  permalink

ACLU/SC Applauds LAUSD LGBT Anti-Bullying Resolution

The ACLU of Southern California (ACLU/SC) is applauding the passage by the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of a resolution that will help combat harassment and bullying of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students. The “LGBT and Sexual Orientation Anti-Bullying Resolution” is expected to provide a safer school environment for LGBT teens by promoting positive images of LGBT people and including age-appropriate LGBT-related material in the curricula for elementary and secondary students.

Sep 14, 2011 |  permalink

Vietnam Vet’s Right of Freedom of Speech Trampled by O.C. County Board of Supervisors

On September 7, the ACLU of Southern California sued Orange County and its Board of Supervisors for violating disabled Vietnam Veteran William D. Fitzgerald’s right of freedom of speech. At two separate open and public meetings of the Orange County Board of Supervisors (OCBOS), the Board silenced Fitzgerald and had him removed from the meeting because some of the Supervisors disagreed with the content of Fitzgerald’s statements which he made during the public participation portions of the meetings.

Sep 8, 2011 |  permalink

CA Senate Approves Seth's Law

The California State Senate approved Seth’s Law (AB 9) in a 24-14 vote. Seth’s Law is designed to address the pervasive problem of school bullying by providing California schools with tools to create a safe school environment for all students. The bill is named in memory of Seth Walsh, a 13-year-old gay student from Tehachapi, CA, who took his life in September 2010, after facing years of relentless anti-gay harassment at school.

Sep 2, 2011 |  permalink