Top Stories From the ACLU of Southern California

Ensure California's Redistricting Commission Is Diverse!

Right now, California residents can take a lead role in drawing the boundaries for our state Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization districts. Everyday people from throughout the state, rather than only politicians, will have the power to participate in the redistricting process. The application deadline is Feb. 16.

Click here to read a personal message from Ramona Ripston about why it's important for you to step up and act as the voice of your community.

Jan 29, 2010 |  permalink

Rain Or Shine, We All Need Health Care Reform

Join us 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23 at Cliníca Romero in Los Angeles (2032 Marengo St., 90033) to rally for health care reform!

Your help is needed now to fight for the passage of health care reform. In light of this Tuesday’s Massachusetts election and the media narrative stating that health care reform is dead, the future of health care reform hangs in the balance. But the need for increased access to health coverage has not changed due to one election race (14,000 people in this country lose their health coverage daily, millions more have coverage that fails them when they need it most, people are denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions) and the public still supports meaningful reform and taking reform efforts to the finish line.

Click here for details.

Jan 22, 2010 |  permalink

Speak Out Against Lethal Injections in California!

The State of California is preparing to adopt an execution procedure so inhumane that we would not use it to put an animal to sleep. In addition to being scientifically unsound and inhumane, the new execution protocols would discriminate against women, interfere with religious freedom and the right to counsel, and are unfair to the family members of people about to be executed. We must send objections to the new lethal injection regulations before 5 p.m. on January 20. Please take action now to stop these unjust policies from being adopted.

Click here to learn more and make your voice heard!

Jan 15, 2010 |  permalink

LA County Fails to Educate Probation Camp Youth

An alliance of legal groups today filed a ground-breaking, class-action lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Probation Department and top county education officials for their total failure to provide youth in the county’s largest juvenile probation camp with basic and appropriate education, thereby denying them the legally mandated rehabilitative program that should prepare them to reenter society and the work force.

The suit, filed in United States District Court in Los Angeles, charges that county personnel -- including administrators and teachers at the Challenger Memorial Youth Center in Lancaster -- have in some instances thrown worksheets under the door of students’ cells in lieu of classroom instruction, denied all education services when children ask for help or to use the restroom, and systematically denied students access to appropriate instruction and the required minimum school day.

"Our months-long investigation has uncovered a scandal of dimensions that would make Dickens shudder," said Mark Rosenbaum, ACLU/SC legal director.

Listen to one of the youth describe his experiences at Challenger.

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Jan 12, 2010 |  permalink

Overhaul the Inglewood Civilian Review Board

The ACLU of Southern California welcomes the civil rights probe being conducted by the Department of Justice into the polices and practices of the Inglewood Police Department in the wake of a series of officer-involved shootings, and we applaud U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters for calling for an investigation. Use of force by law enforcement has been a persistent problem in Inglewood and has sparked well-founded community outrage. We agree that reforms are necessary and call for an overhaul of the Inglewood civilian review board.

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Jan 11, 2010 |  permalink

ACLU/SC Protects Free Speech Right of Army Veteran

A series of citations against a 67-year-old Army veteran for displaying the American flag upside down on federal property have been dismissed only days after the U.S. Attorney’s Office learned that the ACLU of Southern California was representing him in defense of his free speech rights.

Robert Rosebrock, who has been protesting the planned conversion of Veterans Administration property in the Brentwood area to a public park, received the dismissal order signed by a federal judge late yesterday. The order means that five citations Rosebrock received for displaying the American flag upside down as part of his protest have been dropped.

“The government has no business telling Mr. Rosebrock that it is OK to hang the flag one way because it is fine with the message expressed, but that he cannot hang the flag another way because it expresses a different message that the government does not approve of,” said Peter Eliasberg, Manheim Family Attorney for First Amendment Rights and managing attorney for the ACLU/SC.

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Dec 11, 2009 |  permalink

New Barbering/Cosmetology Policies to End Discrimination

The California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology has written new policies that spell out prohibitions on discrimination in enforcement functions and narrow the board’s role in inspections conducted jointly with other agencies. The changes stem from a series of raids conducted by board inspectors in conjunction with local police in April 2008 at barbershops owned and heavily patronized by African Americans. The settlement helps ensure that the board will limit its inspections to its mandate of administrative enforcement of health, safety and business codes, and will never use its inspection authority as a pretext to allow law enforcement agencies to conduct warrantless searches for criminal activity under the pretense of a joint inspection. The new policy also prohibits racial profiling in enforcement actions.

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Dec 10, 2009 |  permalink

Join Us for the 2009 Bill of Rights Dinner!

Monday, Dec. 7, 2009 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Honoring:

Bill of Rights Award:Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music and Marketing Electronic Arts/President, Artwerk Music Group, as well as Robert Redford,** Michelle Satter, and Cara Mertes, the leadership of the Sundance Institute.

Eason Monroe Courageous Advocate Award:María Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.

Special guests include Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters), Rodrigo Garcia (In Treatment), Randy Jackson (American Idol), Olivia Wilde (House, M.D.) and Alfre Woodard (Three Rivers).

**Mr. Redford will not be able to attend the event, but is very honored to be a recipient.

Nov 30, 2009 |  permalink

Join Us for the 2009 Bill of Rights Dinner!

Monday, Dec. 7, 2009 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Honoring:

Bill of Rights Award:Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music and Marketing Electronic Arts/President, Artwerk Music Group, as well as Robert Redford,** Michelle Satter, and Cara Mertes, the leadership of the Sundance Institute.

Eason Monroe Courageous Advocate Award:María Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.

Special guests include Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters), Rodrigo Garcia (In Treatment), Randy Jackson (American Idol), Olivia Wilde (House, M.D.) and Alfre Woodard (Three Rivers).

**Mr. Redford will not be able to attend the event, but is very honored to be a recipient.

Read more.

Nov 30, 2009 |  permalink

ACLU/SC Mourns the Loss of Developer, Philanthropist Doug Ring

The ACLU of Southern California mourns the loss of Doug Ring, an influential civic leader, philanthropist and developer who during his decades in Los Angeles left an indelible imprint on the city’s artistic, political and business communities. The breadth of his interest and his work touched many of us. A rare breed, he was a developer who supported affordable housing, and a political insider who advocated for investigative journalism. Doug Ring was also a staunch champion of fairness and justice -- and a friend the ACLU of Southern California could count on. We are proudly accepting donations in his name, per his family’s request. To make a contribution, call (213) 977-5254.

Nov 19, 2009 |  permalink