“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, … Continue reading
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. Pasquarella will serve as … Continue reading
Late yesterday afternoon, 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 for expressing his views and criticizing the Board and the way … Continue reading
Fullerton has started to get it right. The city has hired an independent consultant to investigate the death of Kelly Thomas. This decision shows the city understands that the investigation must not only be independent but also go beyond … Continue reading
In a nation defined by the concepts of justice, due process, and the rule of law, police must obey the law while they enforce the law. So who polices the police?
Late yesterday, attorneys representing Muslim Americans illegally spied on by the FBI responded to a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) request to dismiss their lawsuit that claimed that the suit would require the government to divulge state secrets. The motion … Continue reading
In response to the July 5th beating death by Fullerton Police of 37-year-old Kelly Thomas, a homeless man with schizophrenia, ACLU of Southern California Executive Director Hector Villagra released the following statement: “While much of what led to Kelly Thomas’ … Continue reading
Not that we always agree with what we read in the O.C. Register's opinion pages, but an editorial proves today that on many issues, Libertarians (with a big "L") and civil libertarians share common ground.
We need checks on the government’s power — we needed them when the country was founded, and we need them now — because the government can and frequently does get it wrong. And, when the government mistakenly marshals its resources against an individual, it can cause great harm. That’s why we have a Bill of Rights and why, in particular, we generally require the government to comply with due process before depriving a person of his or her liberty or property. Continue reading
A U.S. District Court has ruled that the Orange County District Attorney must give alleged gang members due process rights. This is a major, one-of-a-kind victory for the ACLU of Southern California and its co-counsel, the law firm of Munger, … Continue reading
Because freedom can't protect itself.
There are many who seek to consolidate their power at the expense of others, and the ACLU helps balance the scales by defending justice, freedom and fairness.
The American Civil Liberties Union has earned a four-star rating from 
