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ACLU/SC Action Leads Lake Forest to Repeal Law Restricting Free Speech of Day Laborers

Thursday, March 22, 2007

LAKE FOREST – Nearly three weeks after the ACLU of Southern California filed a lawsuit to protect the free speech of day laborers in Lake Forest, the City Council voted to repeal the unconstitutional law. The ordinance prohibited people from soliciting employment while standing on sidewalks in the city.

“Laws like these have no place in our country,” said ACLU/SC staff attorney and Equal Justice Works Fellow Nora Preciado. “The Constitution protects everyone living in our country, and cities can not choose who may speak on their public sidewalks.”

The ACLU/SC filed its suit March 1. Lake Forest agreed to stop enforcement of the ordinance on March 16, and the City Council voted to repeal it on March 20.

The ACLU/SC lawsuit also targeted city enforcement actions that discourage day laborers from seeking work, and the City Council’s vote does not end the lawsuit.

“The city’s decision to repeal this unconstitutional law is an important step, but it does not resolve our concern that day laborers in Lake Forest are unfairly targeted by police when they try to seek work,” said Preciado. “We will keep the pressure on to make sure workers’ rights are not violated.”

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), Colectivo Tonantzin, and the Association of Workers from Lake Forest.

“Now that the law is repealed, it’s time to come together as a community and find solutions that work for all residents of Lake Forest,” said Pablo Alvarado, national coordinator of NDLON.

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