American Civil Liberties Union

The following contact information is for the Northern California affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union. While you can contact the affiliate directly, you can also read about some of work that the affiliate is engaged in by clicking on one of the links on the left and right of this page.

ACLU of Northern California
Interim Executive Director: John Crew
39 Drumm Street
San Francisco, CA 94111-4805
Phone: 415-621-2488
Fax: 415-255-1478

LATEST NEWS

ACLU Calls On Broadcasters To Stop Stifling Political Discourse On YouTube (10/20/2008)
SAN FRANCISCO - Television networks should stop silencing political speech on the Internet, according to a letter the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Northern California and a coalition of public interest groups sent to four major television networks today. Several broadcasting companies have sent letters to YouTube demanding that they take down videos containing short clips of news coverage even when those clips are "fair use" and therefore legally posted.

ACLU Asks Federal Court To Restore Torture Flight Lawsuit Against Boeing Subsidiary (09/25/2008)
SAN FRANCISCO - The American Civil Liberties Union today asked a federal appeals court to reinstate a lawsuit against Boeing subsidiary Jeppesen Dataplan for its role in the CIA's extraordinary rendition program. The U.S. government continues to misuse the "state secrets" privilege to avoid legal scrutiny of the unlawful program. It has become increasingly clear in recent months that other governments do not share the Bush administration's conviction that the program must remain shrouded in false claims of state secrets.

Settlement With Lake County School District Calls For Comprehensive Approach To Protecting Students From Anti-Gay Harassment (06/25/2008)
SAN FRANCISCO — The ACLU of Northern California (ACLU-NC) has reached a settlement with the Upper Lake Union School District that contains a comprehensive series of steps the district will undertake to protect students from anti-gay harassment and discrimination. The agreement is on behalf of a student who was persistently subjected to verbal taunting and physical abuse throughout elementary and middle school based on his gender identity and perceived sexual orientation. The ACLU-NC sought this settlement in light of federal and state laws that allow for school administrators to be held liable if they fail to take adequate measures to remedy anti-LGBT harassment and discrimination.

Lesbian and Gay Couples Win Freedom to Marry in California (05/15/2008)
SAN FRANCISCO - The California Supreme Court ruled today that the state can no longer exclude same-sex couples from civil marriage.

ACLU Appeals Dismissal Of Extraordinary Rendition Lawsuit Against Boeing Subsidiary (03/14/2008)
SAN JOSE, CA - The American Civil Liberties Union today announced it will appeal a federal court decision to throw out a lawsuit against Boeing subsidiary Jeppesen Dataplan for its role in the CIA’s “extraordinary rendition” program. Mohamed et al. v. Jeppesen, filed by the ACLU on behalf of five victims of the rendition program, was dismissed in February after the government intervened, once again misusing the “state secrets” privilege to avoid legal scrutiny of an unlawful program.

ACLU And EFF File To Intervene In Internet Free Speech Lawsuit (02/27/2008)
SAN FRANCISCO - The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Northern California and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) last night filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit that led a federal district judge to order the domain name Wikileaks.org shut down. The motion is on behalf of organizations and individuals that have accessed and used documents on the Wikileaks.org website in their work and want to continue to be able to do so.

ACLU Responds to Federal Court Ruling in "State Secrets" Lawsuit About Warrantless Wiretapping (11/16/2007)
SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled today that a charity that sued President Bush for engaging in unconstitutional surveillance can pursue its case in court. The Bush administration had asked the appellate court to dismiss the suit on the grounds that the very subject matter of the litigation – the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretapping program – was a state secret. The Ninth Circuit rejected this argument, noting that the government had publicly acknowledged the surveillance program and that senior officials had discussed the program in press conferences and statements. The court did, however, find that an inadvertently disclosed document indicating that the charity had been the target of surveillance was properly protected by the state secrets privilege, and returned the case back to the district court to determine whether the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act preempts the state secrets privilege in this context.

Un juez impide al gobierno poner en práctica una regla defectuosa respecto a los números de seguro social que no concuerdan (10/10/2007)
(translated) SAN FRANCISCO - Un juez federal emitió una orden preliminar el día de hoy, la cual le prohibe al gobierno hacer cumplir una nueva regla que utilizaría los archivos del seguro social para hacer cumplir las leyes de inmigración, evitando así que los ciudadanos y residentes legales de EE.UU.

Court Halts Government From Implementing Flawed Social Security No-Match Rule (08/31/2007)
SAN FRANCISCO - A federal judge today issued an order temporarily blocking the government from implementing a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule that would cause U.S. citizens and other authorized workers to lose their jobs, and which would illegally use error-prone social security records as a tool for immigration enforcement. The judge's order also stops the Social Security Administration (SSA) from beginning to send notices on Tuesday to approximately 140,000 employers across the country notifying them of the new rule, which would impact approximately eight million workers.

Use of Government Surveillance Cameras Expands in California Without Regulations or Public Debate, Says ACLU Report (08/20/2007)
SAN FRANCISCO -- California cities are moving quickly to install video surveillance cameras on public streets and plazas without regulations, with little or no public debate, and without an evaluation of their effectiveness, according to an American Civil Liberties Union report released today.

ACLU Applauds State Senate Vote to Restore Public Oversight of Police (06/04/2007)
SACRAMENTO - The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California applauded today's state Senate vote to restore public access to records and public hearings related to complaints about police misconduct.

Civil Rights Groups Sue Immigration Officials for Unlawfully Detaining Six-Year-Old U.S. Citizen (04/26/2007)
SAN FRANCISCO – The American Civil Liberties Union, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, the ACLU of Northern California, and the law firm of Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass LLP, filed a lawsuit today on behalf of a U.S. citizen child who was unlawfully detained for ten hours by immigration officials.

Same-Sex Couples Urge California Supreme Court to Strike Down Marriage Ban (04/02/2007)
SAN FRANCISCO -- In a brief filed today with the California Supreme Court, attorneys representing same-sex couples, Equality California and Our Family Coalition urged the court to strike down as unconstitutional a law that bars same-sex couples from marriage. The couples and organizations are represented by lead counsel the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Heller Ehrman LLP, and the Law Office of David C. Codell.

The Devil Wears Winnie-the-Pooh? Lawsuit Charges Napa Middle School Dress Code Goes Too Far (03/20/2007)
NAPA, CA – Last year, 7th-grader Toni Kay Scott was sent to the principal’s office not because of a revealing see-through top, spiked collar or platform heels – but because her socks featured a picture of the Winnie-the-Pooh character Tigger.

Northern Californians Demand End to Citizenship Application Delays (02/08/2007)
SAN FRANCISCO - Civil rights groups filed a class-action lawsuit today against the federal government for its practice of indefinitely delaying citizenship applications in violation of the Constitution and federal statutes and regulations

California Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Appeal in Lawsuits Seeking Marriage for Same-Sex Couples (12/20/2006)
SAN FRANCISCO - The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and the national ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Project welcomed today's decision by the state Supreme Court to hear appeals in six lawsuits seeking marriage for same-sex couples. The ACLU, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Lambda Legal, Equality California, Heller Ehrman LLP and the Law Office of David C. Codell represent a group of same-sex couples in one of the six marriage lawsuits.

California Supreme Court Ruling Strengthens Protections for Online Free Speech, ACLU Says (11/20/2006)
SAN FRANCISCO -- In a victory for free speech on the Internet, the California Supreme Court ruled today that no provider or user of an interactive computer service may be held liable for putting material on the Internet that was written by someone else. In doing so, the Court overruled an earlier decision by the Court of Appeal.

Same-Sex Couples Appeal to California Supreme Court in Marriage Case (11/13/2006)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -Today, attorneys representing same-sex couples, Equality California, and Our Family Coalition asked the California Supreme Court to decide whether barring same-sex couples from marriage violates the California Constitution.

ACLU of Northern California Appoints New Executive Director to Lead Largest ACLU Affiliate in the Country (10/23/2006)
SAN FRANCISCO - The Board of Directors of the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California is proud to announce its unanimous decision to appoint Maya Harris as the new Executive Director to lead the largest ACLU affiliate in the nation. Harris, the former ACLU of Northern California Associate Director, assumes her new position today.

ACLU of Northern California Launches Every Vote Counts" Campaign (10/11/2006)
SAN FRANCISCO -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, working closely with probation offices, public libraries and community-based organizations throughout northern and central California, announced today that it will inform thousands of individuals with felony convictions that they have the right to vote if they are off parole, on probation or have completed probation. Nearly 350,000 individuals are on probation in California.

Divided California Court of Appeal Rejects Challenge to Discriminatory Marriage Law (10/05/2006)
SAN FRANCISCO - In a 2-1 decision that will be appealed to the California Supreme Court, a divided panel of the California Court of Appeal ruled today that the state may continue to bar same-sex couples from marriage.

ACLU Taps Veteran ACLU Leader as National Deputy Executive Director (07/31/2006)
NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union today announced the appointment of Dorothy M. Ehrlich as Deputy Executive Director of the national organization. Ehrlich has served as Executive Director of the ACLU of Northern California, the largest ACLU affiliate in the nation, for 28 years.

New Report by ACLU of Northern California Documents Government Monitoring of Lawful Protest and Lack of Regulations (07/27/2006)
SAN FRANCISCO – Federal, state and local agencies have infiltrated or monitored the political activity of Californians throughout central and northern California in what has become a disturbing trend, according to a report released today by the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California.

ACLU Helps Los Altos Community Reverse Gay Proclamation Ban (07/26/2006)
LOS ALTOS, CA -- The American Civil Liberties Union cheered a unanimous decision by the Los Altos city council rescinding a ban on proclamations having anything to do with sexual orientation that had passed in February.

Homeland Security Gave Pentagon Information on Anti-War Student Groups in California (07/18/2006)
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Department of Homeland Security provided the Pentagon with information on anti-war protests at University of California campuses last year, according to the most recent government documents released to the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California.

ACLU Urges California Court to Strike Down Law Banning Same-Sex Couples from Marriage (07/10/2006)
SAN FRANCISCO – After appearing in court today, we are hopeful that we persuaded the Court that it goes against California’s rich history of fairness for all people to deny same-sex couples the ability to marry. Same-sex couples fall in love, make commitments and raise children just as straight couples and shouldn’t be denied the ability to marry and the dignity and protections that come with it.

ACLU of Northern California Urges Fresno City Council to Reject Video Surveillance Cameras (06/16/2006)
SAN FRANCISCO -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California urged the Fresno City Council not to spend $1.2 million for 75 video surveillance cameras, which the ACLU says pose a significant threat to privacy rights and are ineffective in deterring crime.

ACLU Defends Blogger's Right to Parody "Ex-Gay" Group (03/22/2006)
SAN FRANCISCO – Citing First Amendment protection for parodies, the American Civil Liberties Union today came to the defense of a California man who received a cease-and-desist letter after posting a parody of a billboard advertisement for so-called “reparative therapy” on his website.

ACLU Sues Pentagon for Files on University of California Student Groups (03/07/2006)
SAN FRANCISCO -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California today filed a federal Freedom of Information Act lawsuit on behalf of University of California student groups whose anti-war activities may have been monitored by the Pentagon.

ACLU of Northern California Seeks Pentagon Spy Files on Peace Groups (02/01/2006)
SAN FRANCISCO -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California today filed a federal Freedom of Information Act request on behalf of University of California students and groups whose lawful activities may have been monitored by the Pentagon. The move is part of a national ACLU effort to reveal the extent and purpose of Pentagon spying.

ACLU Seeks Pentagon Files on Peace Groups (02/01/2006)
WASHINGTON -- In the wake of new evidence revealing Pentagon surveillance of peace groups and protest activities, the American Civil Liberties Union and its affiliates across the country today filed multiple Freedom of Information Act requests seeking to uncover who is being spied on by the Pentagon and why.

ACLU and National Abortion Federation Hail Two Appeals Court Rulings Holding Federal Abortion Ban Unconstitutional (01/31/2006)
NEW YORK - The National Abortion Federation (NAF) and the American Civil Liberties Union today praised two rulings holding the “Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003” unconstitutional. The decisions came out of federal appeals courts in New York and California. These rulings join an Eighth Circuit decision holding the ban unconstitutional.

TSA and FBI Ordered to Pay $200,000 to Settle "No Fly" Lawsuit (01/24/2006)
SAN FRANCISCO -- The federal government today agreed to pay $200,000 in attorneys' fees to the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California to end a Freedom of Information and Privacy Act lawsuit that succeeded in making public, for the first time, hundreds of records about the government's secret "no fly" list used to screen airline passengers after September 11, 2001.

Religious and Civil Rights Groups Support Same-Sex Couples in Legal Battle to Marry (01/10/2006)
SAN FRANCISCO -- In eight friend-of-the-court briefs filed Monday with the California Court of Appeal, more than more than 250 religious and civil rights organizations urged the court to put an end to state laws that deny same-sex couples the protections of marriage. The Court is hearing the State’s appeal of the March 2005 decision by San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer, which held that California’s current statutory ban on marriage of same-sex couples violates the California Constitution.

ACLU, NCLR, and Lambda Legal Urge California Appeals Court to Affirm Decision Ending Unfairness Against Same-Sex Couples in Marriage (11/09/2005)
SAN FRANCISCO - The American Civil Liberties Union, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and Lambda Legal are filing a brief before a California appeals court today urging the court to affirm a lower court decision saying it is unconstitutional to deny same-sex couples the ability to marry.

Nation's First Government Office to Provide Medical Marijuana Directly to Patients Established by Santa Cruz, CA City Council (11/08/2005)
SANTA CRUZ, CA - The nation's first-ever government office tasked with providing medical marijuana directly to patients will likely be established today by the Santa Cruz City Council, the American Civil Liberties Union said. The action is designed to test states' constitutional right to opt out of enforcing the federal government's medical marijuana prohibition scheme.

Following ACLU Action, Northern California High School Students Win First Amendment Victory (07/14/2005)
SAN FRANCISCO -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California announced today that a student group at Deer Valley High School has won the right to hold a peace rally in the fall. The Antioch Unified School District agreed to allow the rally to continue after the ACLU of Northern California intervened on behalf of the students.

ACLU and Drug Policy Alliance Threaten to Sue Schwarzenegger for Suspending California's Medical Marijuana Law (07/12/2005)
SACRAMENTO - The American Civil Liberties Union and the Drug Policy Alliance threatened today to sue the Schwarzenegger administration unless it reverses its illegal suspension of California's Medical Marijuana Program.

ACLU Calls on California Governor to End Surveillance of Peaceful Protesters (06/30/2005)
SAN FRANCISCO -- Following revelations that an intelligence unit recently spied on a peace rally organized by families of slain American soldiers, the American Civil Liberties Union today called on Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to take immediate steps to stop the California National Guard from spying on people who engage in peaceful protest. The ACLU also filed a California Public Records Act request with both the governor and the California National Guard seeking documents relating to the peace rally and the Intelligence Unit.

Civil Rights Groups File Freedom of Information Act Request in Wake of Reports of FBI Harassment of Muslims in Lodi, CA (06/16/2005)
SACRAMENTO -- Prompted by reports from the Council on American-Islamic Relations of Sacramento Valley and the Muslim community, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and local civil rights groups today filed a Freedom of Information Act request seeking FBI records of the procedures and policies used during the questioning and detention of dozens of Muslims in the Central Valley town of Lodi.

ACLU Files Lawsuit to Protect Religious Liberty of Imprisoned Asylum Seeker (05/18/2005)
SAN FRANCISCO -- The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging restrictions on an asylum seeker's right to wear a religious head covering. The plaintiff, Harpal Singh Cheema, is a devout Sikh, imprisoned since 1997 while awaiting a decision on his asylum application.

ACLU of California Criticizes Governor Schwarzenegger's Comments on Controversial "Minuteman" Program (04/29/2005)
SACRAMENTO -- A governor who ran for office as the people's politician should unite the residents of California rather than divide.

ACLU of Northern California Seeks Information About Undercover Surveillance of University Organizations (04/27/2005)
FRESNO, CA -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and a Fresno State University student group today filed requests with the local sheriff's department and the FBI after university officials disclosed that several plainclothes police officers were present at a student-sponsored lecture last fall. The sheriff's department is currently under investigation following disclosures that it infiltrated an anti-war group in 2003.

Hearings Begin on New Bill that Will Protect Californians' Privacy Rights (04/12/2005)
SACRAMENTO -- A broad coalition of privacy rights, women, consumer, and civil liberties groups are supporting a bill introduced by State Senator Joe Simitian that would prohibit any document created by the state, county, or municipal government, from containing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag or other device that can broadcast an individual's personal information.

ACLU Cheers Decision by California Appeals Court Removing Legal Challenge to Domestic Partnership Law (04/04/2005)
SACRAMENTO- The American Civil Liberties Union today cheered a decision by California's Court of Appeal throwing out a legal challenge by anti-gay activists to the state's comprehensive domestic partnership law.

California Judge Finalizes Historic Education Settlement in ACLU Lawsuit (03/23/2005)
SAN FRANCISCO - A judge today finalized the historic settlement in a class action education lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and other organizations. Advocates say that the lawsuit is a critical first step toward ensuring all California public schools have the means to provide equitable learning conditions for all students.

ACLU Applauds California Judge's Decision Ending Discrimination Against Same-Sex Couples in Marriage (03/14/2005)
SAN FRANCISCO -- Today's decision is a landmark for the law, and an important development for the entire nation. With plain but compelling logic, the court has shown us all why in a nation committed to fairness, same-sex couples must not be shut out of marriage. But this decision is most important to the thousands upon thousands of same-sex couples who desperately need the protection that marriage gives, and who deserve the dignity it brings. Gay people are firefighters, teachers, doctors and neighbors; we deserve the same rights and protections as other Americans. Our constitution promises liberty to all; this decision takes us a step closer to that promise.

California Company Pulls out of Program to Track Student Movements (02/16/2005)
SAN FRANCISCO - The Sutter-based company InCom announced last night at a packed special school district meeting that it would end its pilot program to require students to wear Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) badges that track the students' movements. The decision came after the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), and the Washington-based Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) urged school officials to end the program after being contacted by several parents.

Parents and Civil Liberties Groups Urge Northern California School District to Terminate Use of Tracking Devices (02/07/2005)
SAN FRANCISCO - Parents in a northern California public school district and civil liberties groups are urging the district to terminate the use of Radio Frequency Identification tags (RFIDs) in mandatory ID badges that track students' movements.

ACLU Says California's Use of Paralytic Drug During Executions is Unconstitutional (01/13/2005)
SAN FRANCISCO - The public and the media have the First Amendment right to meaningfully witness and gather accurate information about California's execution procedure, said the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and Death Penalty Focus in a court brief filed today in the civil case challenging the state's method of lethal injection.

ACLU Urges California Trial Court to End Discrimination Against Same-Sex Couples in Marriage (12/22/2004)
SAN FRANCISCO - The American Civil Liberties Union asked a California trial court today to strike down a state law that bans same-sex couples from marriage.

ACLU Applauds California for Acting to Protect State Laws Aimed at Safeguarding Women's Health (12/08/2004)
SAN FRANCISCO - The American Civil Liberties Union today praised California Attorney General Bill Lockyer for vowing to take action against a federal provision, signed into law today by President Bush, that would take away the state's ability to enforce its laws protecting women's reproductive health and rights, including laws that ensure that women can obtain lifesaving emergency abortions.

ACLU Challenges California Law Permitting Government Seizure of DNA Samples from Innocent People (12/07/2004)
SAN FRANCISCO - The California affiliates of the American Civil Liberties Union today filed a class-action lawsuit challenging portions of a new initiative, Proposition 69, that requires DNA testing of people who are arrested for but never convicted of a crime.

ACLU Challenges California Law Permitting Government Seizure of DNA Samples from Innocent People (12/07/2004)
SAN FRANCISCO -- I'm an Air Force veteran with 12 years of service and a graduate of the federal law enforcement facility in Glynco, Georgia. I worked as a border patrol agent for the Immigration and Naturalization Service where I was stationed in Brownsville, Texas. After I left the INS I then volunteered with Americorp and the Peace Corp.

ACLU Sues FBI and Justice Department for Information on Ongoing Surveillance of Muslims in Northern California (10/21/2004)
SAN FRANCISCO -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California today filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit seeking expedited processing and release of FBI and Justice Department documents pertaining to the ongoing investigation, interviews and questioning of Muslims and U.S. citizens of Middle Eastern descent in Northern California.

ACLU Urges San Francisco Police Commission to Exercise Caution in Use of Tasers (09/21/2004)
SAN FRANCISCO - Only days after the death of a Vallejo man who was shot with a taser, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California today urged the San Francisco Police Commission to only authorize use of tasers in cases where there is an imminent threat to human life. In a letter sent to the commissioners, the ACLU expressed concern about the reported cases of deaths following use of tasers, which are weapons that can shoot up to 50,000 volts of electricity through a person's body causing temporary paralysis.

Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging California Domestic Partnership Law that Offers Protections for Same-Sex Couples (09/09/2004)
SACRAMENTO- A Superior Court judge here has dismissed a lawsuit that sought to block legal protections for same-sex couples that are to go into effect in January 2005, the American Civil Liberties Union announced today.

California Supreme Court Invalidates Marriages from San Francisco, Without Resolving Whether Same-Sex Couples Have the Right to Marry (08/12/2004)
SAN FRANCISCO - Today the California Supreme Court ruled that San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom did not have the authority to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, and declared the licenses issued to thousands of same-sex couples invalid. The ruling does not address whether same-sex couples must be allowed to marry under the California Constitution. That issue is being litigated in a separate lawsuit brought by the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Lambda Legal and the ACLU. Legal briefs are being filed in that lawsuit in the next few weeks, and the case is expected to move quickly in state court.

ACLU Welcomes CA Attorney General's Investigation of Undercover Surveillance of Anti-War Group (06/29/2004)
SAN FRANCISCO - The American Civil Liberties Union today welcomed the news that California Attorney General Bill Lockyer has agreed to conduct an investigation into the undercover surveillance of Peace Fresno, a community organization featured in Michael Moore's new film Fahrenheit 9/11.

Reproductive Rights Groups Hail First Ruling To Permanently Block Federal Abortion Ban (06/01/2004)
SAN FRANCISCO - The National Abortion Federation, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and the American Civil Liberties Union praised today's ruling by a federal court judge in San Francisco striking down the ""Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003."" Today's decision in Planned Parenthood Federation of America v. Ashcroft was the first to permanently enjoin the sweeping ban, which was challenged in three federal courts late last year.

Couples Challenge Marriage Discrimination in California (03/12/2004)
SAN FRANCISCO -- The American Civil Liberties Union, the National Center for Lesbian Rights and Lambda Legal today filed a lawsuit arguing that denying same-sex couples the right to marry violates the California Constitution's guarantees of equality, liberty, and privacy.

ACLU Responds to California Supreme Court's Decisions to Halt Same-Sex Marriages in San Francisco (03/11/2004)
SAN FRANCISCO -- The California Supreme Court issued a interim decision today ordering San Francisco to stop issuing licenses to same-sex couples until the Court has a chance to make a decision in the case. The Court ordered the parties to file written arguments in March, and said it would set a hearing for May or June. There is no timetable for a decision after that hearing.

ACLU Applauds CA Supreme Court Decision Promoting Women's Health and Ending Gender Discrimination in Insurance Coverage (03/01/2004)
SAN FRANCISCO - The American Civil Liberties Union and its California affiliates today hailed a decision by the California State Supreme Court upholding a California law requiring employers that provide prescription drug benefits to include contraceptive coverage.

ACLU and Gay Rights Groups Praise Court's Decision to Permit San Francisco to Continue Granting Marriage Licenses To Same-Sex Couples (02/18/2004)
SAN FRANCISCO - In a tremendous victory for gay and lesbian rights, a San Francisco Superior Court judge issued an order on Tuesday permitting the City of San Francisco to continue issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Since February 12, more than 2,700 same-sex couples have obtained marriage licenses in San Francisco. The court also granted a request to intervene on behalf of five gay and lesbian couples that are represented by the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), Lambda Legal, and the ACLU of Northern California (ACLU).

Lesbian and Gay Couples in San Francisco Are Granted Marriage Licenses (02/12/2004)
SAN FRANCISCO--The City and County of San Francisco today became the first government in the United States to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples. City officials followed a directive set in motion by Mayor Gavin Newsom. Advocates heralded the move as the most significant moment in the fight for equal marriage rights for same-sex couples.

ACLU and Fresno Residents Seek FBI Records Regarding Infiltration of Local Community Group (01/29/2004)
FRESNO, CA - The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and members of a Fresno peace group today filed requests under the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act seeking information about the government's infiltration of a local peace group.

California ACLU and Library Association Launch Campaign to Take Action Against the Patriot Act and Restore Constitutional Rights (01/22/2004)
SAN FRANCISCO - The American Civil Liberties Union's California affiliates and the California Library Association today called upon voters to urge their representatives to support legislation that would roll back some of the USA Patriot Act's most dangerous provisions, including the government's ability to indiscriminately search individual's library records, Internet activity and bookstore purchases.

Settlement of California Lawsuit Aims at Protecting Gay Students; School District Agrees to Train Staff and Students (01/06/2004)
SAN FRANCISCO - The Morgan Hill Unified School District, where lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students have suffered years of harassment and discrimination, including physical violence, has agreed to a wide-ranging staff and student training program and policy protections. The settlement ends a five-year-long federal lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

Judge Denies Preliminary Injunction in Lawsuit Challenging California Domestic Partnership Law (12/18/2003)
SACRAMENTO- A Superior Court judge today refused to stand in the way of a new state law that offers same-sex couples legal protections and imposes many responsibilities for their relationships. Judge Thomas M. Cecil denied requests by Senator Pete Knight and Randy Thomasson of Campaign for California Families to issue a preliminary injunction, which would prevent the state from putting the law into effect.

Declassified FBI Documents Suggest Shoddy Management of "No Fly" List, Fail to Show How Innocent Americans Can Get Names Cleared (12/04/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO - The FBI's first-ever release of classified documents about the controversial "no fly" terrorist watchlist both reveals some disturbing new information and fails to answer crucial questions about the watchlist's implications for civil liberties, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California said today. Of greatest concern is that the documents are silent on how Americans falsely listed as potential terrorists can clear their names.

ACLU of Northern California Calls for Government to Halt Special Registration Program (11/20/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO -The America Civil Liberties Union of Northern California today asked the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to put a halt to the government's Special Registration Program that singles out Arab, Muslim, and South Asian men and boys. The ACLU also called for Congress to step in and halt the controversial program.

Sacramento Goes on Record Opposing the USA Patriot Act Joining 211 Communities Across the Country (11/14/2003)
SACRAMENTO -- The Sacramento City Council, voted 8-1, to oppose the controversial USA Patriot Act last night before an overflowing room of local residents and community groups. The resolution sparked intense debate with more than a 100 people lined up outside the chambers. The vote came after two hours of comments from a wide range of groups opposing the Patriot Act. The overwhelming support of the City Council makes Sacramento the 212th community to pass such a resolution.

Voters Support Major Police Reform in San Francisco - Proposition H Sets Standard of Police Oversight (11/05/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO -The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California today hailed the passage of Proposition H, making San Francisco the first city in the nation in which every stage of the police complaint process - from the investigation of the complaint to disciplinary decisions - is controlled by civilians.

California Voters Overwhelmingly Reject Ward Connerly's Ban on Race Data Collection (10/15/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO - The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California today hailed the news that California voters overwhelmingly rejected Proposition 54--Ward Connerly's latest race initiative by a margin of 64 percent to 36 percent. The constitutional amendment, if passed, would have banned most agencies from collecting data on race, ethnicity and national origin, with disastrous consequences for health, education public safety and civil rights.

ACLU Responds to Appeals Court Decision Allowing California Recall Vote to Go Forward (09/23/2003)
LOS ANGELES -- We are disappointed by the Ninth Circuit's decision allowing the Oct. 7 recall election to go forward. We remain firmly convinced that using voting equipment officially declared by the state to be obsolete, in a number of counties with a high concentration of minority voters, violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and the Voting Rights Act.

Appeals Court Postpones California Recall Election Until State Can Correct "Punch Card" Voting Machines (09/15/2003)
LOS ANGELES - In a victory for California voters, a federal appeals court today ordered the postponement of the state's recall election until all counties complete the transition away from faulty and decertified "punch card" voting machines.

Victory for California School District's Diversity Education (09/04/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO - Following intervention by the American Civil Liberties Union, parents and students who sued the Novato School District over a diversity education program because of its message of tolerance for lesbian and gay people agreed to dismiss the lawsuit today, ending nearly two years of litigation. The lawsuit, Citizens for Parental Rights v. Novato Unified School District, attacked the Novato school district for presenting a play entitled Cootie Shots: Theatrical Inoculations Against Bigotry in two elementary schools.

Landmark Survey Finds Majority of California's Schools in Violation of Sex Education Laws (09/03/2003)
SACRAMENTO - The first statewide survey of sex education in California's public schools in almost a decade reveals that 85 percent of schools violate one or more laws governing this subject, in part because many teachers and administrators find state laws governing sex education confusing and inconsistent.. The survey also shows that parents and schools overwhelmingly support sex education.

ACLU Hails Milestone as California Legislature Enacts Toughest Financial Privacy Protections in the Nation (08/20/2003)
SACRAMENTO -- With bipartisan support in both the Assembly and Senate, the California state legislature has passed the strongest financial privacy protections in the nation, a move the American Civil Liberties Union hailed as a milestone in the reform of financial privacy laws.

ACLU Attorney Comes to San Francisco to Lead Gay Rights Work in the West (07/28/2003)
NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union has assigned noted gay rights attorney Tamara Lange to San Francisco to lead the ACLU's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights work in the western states. Lange has been an attorney for the ACLU's Lesbian and Gay Rights and AIDS Projects in New York since 2001.

Government Agency Releases Documents on "No Fly" List; ACLU Says Many Questions Still Remain Unanswered (07/22/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO - The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California today said there were ""troubling inadequacies"" with the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) management of its ""no fly"" list following a review of documents that were recently released under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act.

ACLU Applauds State Attorney General's Commitment to Protect Californian's Civil Liberties and Rights (07/14/2003)
SACRAMENTO - The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California today applauded Attorney General Bill Lockyer for agreeing to implement a series of guidelines ensuring that the state will no longer monitor and collect information on activists and First Amendment activity.

First-Ever Poll of California's Latino Voters Dispels Myth That Majority Supports Hard-Line Drug Policies (07/02/2003)
NEW YORK - Citing the first-ever poll to ask California's Latino voters about their views on drug policy, the American Civil Liberties Union said today that the overwhelming consensus in opposition to incarceration for low-level drug offenses confirms its call to end the failed experiment of mass incarceration as a way of ending drug abuse.

Immigrants Targeted for Deportation After Participating in INS Special Registration Program Speak Out (07/01/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO -Two young brothers came forward today to describe how they were detained and arrested after voluntarily participating in the Immigration and Naturalization Service's controversial Special Registration Program, at a news conference convened by the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, the American Muslim Voice and the Pakistani-American Alliance.

Forty Dockworkers, Demonstrators, and Observers File Federal Lawsuit Over Injuries Sustained in Anti-War Protest at California Port (06/26/2003)
OAKLAND, CA -- The Oakland Police Department and the City of Oakland violated the constitutional rights of dozens of demonstrators, dockworkers, legal observers and others who were injured at a peaceful anti-war demonstration last April, according to a federal lawsuit filed today by the American Civil Liberties Union and a coalition of rights groups.

ACLU and National Center for Lesbian Rights Help CA School District Fight Lawsuit Over Theater Program Promoting Diversity (06/02/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO - The American Civil Liberties Union and a gay rights organization today filed a motion to intervene in an existing lawsuit on behalf of a local parents group and a children's theater company who support a local school district that has come under fire for providing diversity education through the theater arts.

ACLU of Northern California Launches Campaign To Stop "Patriot Act II" - "A Sequel Worse Than the Original" (05/30/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO -- In a full page advertisement in today's New York Times, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California labeled proposed Justice Department legislation that further threatens our core civil liberties and rights a sequel "even worse than the original."

ACLU Urges CA Attorney General to Stop State Monitoring of War Protestors and Other Political Dissenters (05/20/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO - The American Civil Liberties Union today called on Attorney General Bill Lockyer to direct a state anti-terrorism intelligence agency to stop compiling dossiers on political activists and organizations, including anti-war, animal rights, and environmental groups.

Citing New Report on Police Misconduct, ACLU of Northern CA Renews Call for Reforms (04/23/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California today called for major police reforms following the release of a highly critical new report by a citizen complaint board documenting the San Francisco Police Department's obstruction of investigations into police misconduct.

High Court Hears Arguments in Case that Tests Limits on Free Speech for Companies (04/23/2003)
NEW YORK - In a closely watched free speech case being argued before the Supreme Court today, the American Civil Liberties Union is urging the Justices to hold that statements by the Nike Corporation responding to accusations of unfair labor practices should not be treated as commercial speech.

ACLU Challenges Government Secrecy on "No Fly" List at San Francisco Airport (04/22/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO -- Saying that federal officials violated privacy and public information laws, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California today filed a federal lawsuit challenging secret "no fly" and other transportation watch lists. In papers filed with the court, the ACLU said that at least 339 passengers have been stopped and questioned at San Francisco International Airport since September 2001.

ACLU of Northern California Seeks Answers to Police Attack on Non-Violent Protesters (04/09/2003)
OAKLAND, CA-The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and representatives from civil rights groups today sent a letter to the chief of police here expressing "extreme concern" over yesterday's attack by law enforcement officers on non-violent anti-war protesters at the Port of Oakland.

Federal Appeals Court Says Schools Must Protect Gay Students from Harassment (04/08/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO - In a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the Federal Court of Appeals for the western states issued a historic decision today which holds school officials liable for failing to protect students from anti-gay harassment.

ACLU of Northern California and Civil Rights Groups Say Proposed Resolution to Punish Peace Protesters is Illegal (04/01/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO--Saying that a proposed resolution by the City Board of Supervisors would "chill participation in expressive activity at a time when it is most needed," the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and other groups today sent a letter condemning the resolution that seeks to recover protest-related expenses from local anti-war organizers.

ACLU of Northern CA Expresses Concerns About Police Tactics Used During Anti-War Protests in San Francisco (03/25/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO -- In a letter sent today to the city's acting chief of police, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California expressed concerns about some of the police tactics used in dealing with anti-war protests that resulted in the arrests of more than 1,500 people over the last several days.

ACLU of Northern CA Provides Free Legal Advice for Iraqi Immigrants Facing FBI Questioning (03/24/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO--Concerned that federal law enforcement may be engaging in ethnic profiling, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and other civil rights groups today announced that they will provide free legal advice to Iraqi immigrants, Iraqi Americans and others who may be contacted by the FBI for questioning.

In Wake of Scandal, New ACLU Report Calls for Major Reforms in San Francisco Police Department (03/12/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California issued a report today calling for major reforms in the San Francisco Police Department in the wake of the recent indictments of high-ranking officers. The report, titled "Roadmap to Reform -- Strengthening the Accountability Mechanisms of the San Francisco Police Department," outlines steps that should be taken to strengthen accountability in the Department.

UC Berkeley Students Oppose USA PATRIOT Act (03/05/2003)
BERKELEY, CA -- In a resolution passed late this evening by a vote of 18-0 with one abstention, the senate of the Associated Students of the University of California at Berkeley called upon campus administrators oppose the USA PATRIOT Act and "continue to preserve and uphold students' freedom of speech, assembly, association, and privacy, the right to counsel and due process in judicial proceedings, and protection from unreasonable searches and seizures."

ACLU of Northern CA Hails Landmark Racial Profiling Settlement (02/27/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO-The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has agreed to adopt sweeping reforms intended to end the practice of racial profiling on California's highways, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California announced today. The reforms include a ban on consent searches and restrictions on drug-related pretext stops and are likely to have a broad impact on law enforcement agencies throughout the state.

Another CA City Passes Resolution Opposing the USA PATRIOT Act (02/25/2003)
RICHMOND, CA--The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California today applauded the unanimous passage of a resolution by the Richmond City Council calling on Congress to repeal specific provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act that violate the civil rights and liberties of Richmond residents.

ACLU of Northern CA and Community Groups Urge Fresno Police to Protect Against Federal Privacy Abuses (02/20/2003)
FRESNO, CA -- In an open letter sent today to the Fresno Police Department, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and a coalition of community and civil rights groups called on officials not to join a federal terrorism task force without first assuring citizens that their state constitutional right to privacy will be protected.

ACLU and CA Civil Rights Groups Call for Major Police Reforms in Sacramento (02/14/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO-Citing data from a report on racial profiling released today by the Sacramento Police Department, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and a number of civil rights groups called for major policy changes in the way minority motorists are treated by police.

ACLU of Northern CA Challenges Mass Round-Up of High School Students for "Gang Database" (01/30/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO - The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California filed a class-action lawsuit today challenging the unlawful round-up, detention and search of approximately 60 students whose names and photographs were then entered into a "gang database" maintained by the police.

CA's Yolo County Becomes 29th in Nation to Pass Resolution Opposing the USA Patriot Act (01/28/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO - The Yolo County Board of Supervisors, in a 4-0 vote, passed a resolution today opposing the USA PATRIOT Act and calling upon city and county employees to not participate in racial profiling.

San Francisco to Become Largest City in CA to Vote on Resolution Opposing the USA PATRIOT Act (01/13/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO-- The San Francisco Board of Supervisors will vote on a resolution today opposing the USA PATRIOT Act and calling upon city agencies and private citizens to defend civil liberties and rights.

Oakland Becomes 19th U.S. City to Pass Resolution Against Anti-Civil Liberties Measures (12/17/2002)
OAKLAND - The city council today passed a resolution opposing the USA PATRIOT Act and urging the state's Members of Congress to actively work for its repeal, making Oakland the 19th municipality -- and the largest yet -- to speak out in recent months against Bush Administration policies.

ACLU of Northern CA Seeks Government Accountability Regarding Federal "No Fly" List (12/12/2002)
SAN FRANCISCO - The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California today filed requests under the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act seeking information about the government's "no fly list" and other government watch lists.

New ACLU Report Profiles Individuals Caught in Post-Sept. 11 Backlash in Northern California (11/13/2002)
SAN FRANCISCO - The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, in collaboration with a group of local and national advocacy groups, today released a new report documenting the experiences of 20 individuals whose lives have been altered by the backlash following the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

Unanimous Federal Appeals Court Rejects Government's Attempt to Punish Doctors for Recommending Medical Marijuana (10/29/2002)
SAN FRANCISCO-- In a resounding rejection of the government's attempt to undermine the growing number of state medical marijuana laws, a federal appeals court today unanimously ruled that the government cannot revoke the licenses of California doctors who recommend medical marijuana to their patients.

ACLU Report Blasts San Francisco Police Failure to Report on Racial Profiling Stops and Searches (10/07/2002)
SAN FRANCISCO- A comprehensive report on police stops and searches of motorists released today by the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California sharply criticized the San Francisco Police Department's failure to take the issue of racial profiling seriously.

CA Court Says Prisoners Have First Amendment Right To Receive "Snail Mail" Printed From the Internet (09/11/2002)
SAN FRANCISCO--In a case that affects prisoners throughout the state, a federal judge today upheld the First Amendment right of a California prisoner to receive mail that contains material printed from the Internet.

ACLU Urges CA Police Not to Let Federal Spying Rules Override State Privacy Rights (07/23/2002)
SAN FRANCISCO -- In letters sent today to seven Bay Area police and sheriff's departments, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and several other civil rights groups are urging law enforcement agencies to take immediate steps to ensure that the state constitutional right to privacy is not overridden by intrusive new federal policies on domestic spying.

ACLU Calls on State Attorney General To Protect Californians' Right to Privacy (07/02/2002)
SAN FRANCISCO - - In an open letter sent today to California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, the California affiliates of the American Civil Liberties Union urged Lockyer to take ""immediate steps to ensure that intelligence-gathering practices carried out by law enforcement officers fully respect Californians' constitutional right to privacy.""

ACLU Calls on CA University to Insure a Safety and Tolerance in the Wake of Student Demonstrations (05/17/2002)
SAN FRANCISCO--The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California today sent a letter urging San Francisco State University officials ""to create an environment conducive to peaceful protest and education"" after officials turned over tapes of recent student protests to the District Attorney's office for possible hate crimes violations.

Doctors, Educators, Civil Rights Leaders Across CA Vow to Defeat Dangerous "Race Information Ban" (04/23/2002)
SAN FRANCISCO-- Public health, education, environmental and civil rights organizations across California today pledged to fight Ward Connerly's "race information ban," an initiative that will prohibit the collection, analysis or use of information pertaining to race or ethnicity by state and local governments in California.

ACLU Applauds CA Police Chiefs for Expressing Strong View That Local Police Should Not Enforce Immigration Laws (04/15/2002)
SAN FRANCISCO--The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California today applauded the California Police Chiefs Association for expressing their strong opinion that local police should not be involved in immigration enforcement.

Federal Appeals Court Hears Arguments Today in Medical Marijuana Case with National Impact (04/08/2002)
SAN FRANCISCO--In a case that will likely decide the fate of most of the nation's medical marijuana laws, today the American Civil Liberties Union is urging a federal appeals court to uphold a ruling that the government cannot revoke the licenses of California doctors who recommend the medical use of marijuana to their patients.

ACLU of Northern CA Urges Oakland Mayor To Fill Empty Seats on Citizens' Police Review Board (02/28/2002)
OAKLAND, CA--The ACLU of Northern California and other concerned individuals and organizations today sent an open letter to Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown urging him to fill the empty seats on the city's Citizens' Police Review Board.

ACLU of Northern CA Says Gov. Davis's Wiretapping Proposals Are Unnecessary and Harmful to Civil Liberties (01/10/2002)
SAN FRANCISCO--The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California today criticized Gov. Gray Davis's pledge to give new powers to state and local law enforcement to use "roving"" wiretaps and monitor e-mail.

CA Supreme Court Hears Arguments Against Sweeping Juvenile Justice Measure Today (12/05/2001)
LOS ANGELES--The state's highest court will hear arguments today in a landmark case that tests whether Proposition 21, the largest crime-related initiative in California history, violates the state Constitution and strips courts of their traditional powers.

ACLU Calls on Fresno Airport to Remove Controversial Facial Recognition Technology (11/20/2001)
SAN FRANCISCO--A controversial facial recognition technology system installed at Fresno's Yosemite Airport will do little to keep Americans safe, but threatens fundamental civil rights, the American Civil Liberties Union said today in a letter to the city officials.

In Novel Case, U.S. Court Says "Non, Merci" to French Government's Attempt to Censor Yahoo! Content (11/08/2001)
SAN FRANCISCO--The American Civil Liberties Union today welcomed a landmark court ruling that affirms the First Amendment's reach in cyberspace and makes clear that this American constitutional freedom is beyond the reach of foreign governments to control.

Civil Rights Groups Sue Governor Davis for Eliminating Key Racial Profiling Data Collection Provisions from State's Budget (11/01/2001)
SAN FRANCISCO--A coalition of rights groups, racial profiling victims and taxpayers filed a lawsuit today charging that Governor Davis exceeded his authority when he eliminated key racial profiling data collection requirements from this year's budget.

CA Law Aimed at Gang Violence is Unconstitutional, ACLU and Youth Rights Groups Argue (09/06/2001)
SAN FRANCISCO - The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, Southern California, and San Diego in coalition with other voter and youth advocacy groups today filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the California Supreme Court challenging California's Proposition 21, the "Gang Violence and Juvenile Crime Prevention Act."

As Medical Marijuana Battle Moves to Appeals Court, ACLU Urges Protection of Doctors and their Patients (08/31/2001)
SAN FRANCISCO--In a legal brief filed with a federal appeals court here today, the American Civil Liberties Union is urging the court to uphold a ruling that the federal authorities cannot revoke the licenses of California doctors who recommend the medical use of marijuana to their patients.

Court OKs City's Partner-Benefits Requirement (06/15/2001)
SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal court has upheld a city's right to do business only with companies that treat their gay and lesbian employees fairly, the Gay.com/PlanetOut.com Network reported.

ACLU, Civil Rights Groups Move to Unseal Court Documents in Wen Ho Lee Case (06/06/2001)
SAN FRANCISCO--Acting on behalf of Chinese for Affirmative Action, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, the Asian Law Caucus and local attorneys today filed a motion in New Mexico to gain access to documents that remain under seal in the case of nuclear scientist Wen Ho Lee.

Gay Students Fight Harassment (06/03/2001)
SAN FRANCISCO -- A state law took effect last year prohibiting harassment against gays in the schools, but few districts in California have taken major steps to implement the law, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Martinez, California High School Senior is Among 12 Winners of ACLU College Scholarship for Youth Activism (05/23/2001)
SAN FRANCISCO - - The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California today announced that Gabriel Martinez of Alhambra High School is one of 12 seniors nationwide to be awarded a $4,000 college scholarship in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the struggle to defend civil liberties. a educate minors about civil rights by planning youth rights conferences and investigative field trips for young activists.

Oakland Police Department Announces Results of Racial Profiling Data Collection Program (05/11/2001)
SAN FRANCISCO -- The ACLU of Northern California today applauded the Oakland Police Department's data collection program, but expressed deep concern abut the results of the initial data collection efforts that shows that African Americans are 3.3 times as likely to be searched during a traffic stop as whites. The ACLU calls on the Oakland Police Department to ban consent searches and pretext stops that likely contribute to the discriminatory results.

California Highway Patrol Bans Consent Searches (04/20/2001)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- The California Highway Patrol's commissioner ordered a ban on some car searches Thursday, a move that civil liberties groups say is a tacit admission that officers single out minority drivers for unfair treatment, the Associated Press reported. According to the AP, CHP Commissioner D.O. "Spike" Helmick ordered a six-month moratorium on "consent searches," which officers can conduct only if they receive permission from a driver.

California Highway Patrol Bans Consent Searches Following Review of Data Collection Showing Discriminatory Pattern (04/19/2001)
SAN FRANCISCO - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded the California Highway Patrol (CHP) decision to issue an order mandating a six-month moratorium on consent searches. The mandate came in response to a review of a data collection process that revealed racially discriminatory search rates.

ACLU and Religious Groups Bring Constitutional Challenge to CA Governor's "No Parole" Policy (04/18/2001)
SAN FRANCISCO--Three religious denominations represented by the American Civil Liberties Union affiliates of Northern and Southern California filed a friend-of-the-court brief today in support of a man who is challenging Governor Gray Davis' decision to deny him parole.

Judge Hands Significant Victories to Civil Rights Groups Battling California's Educational Failures (04/11/2001)
SAN FRANCISCO - A California State Superior Court today handed a substantial victory to the American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights groups that are fighting to reform California's failed and inequitable school system in the statewide education lawsuit, Williams v. State of California, filed last May.

In First-Ever Challenge, CA Court of Appeals Upholds Library's Right to Provide Uncensored Internet Access (03/07/2001)
SAN FRANCISCO--In a resounding victory for civil liberties, an appeals court here has held that a parent may not force a public library to censor the Internet access of its patrons in order to control her own child's use of the Internet, the American Civil Liberties Union announced today.

ACLU Sues Rural California School for Anti-Gay Climate; Case Highlights National Epidemic in Rural Schools (01/24/2001)
VISALIA, CA -- Breaking new ground in the ongoing struggle against anti-gay harassment and violence in rural schools nationwide, the American Civil Liberties Union today filed an expanded federal lawsuit against a school district in California's Central Valley, seeking to eliminate a hostile, homophobic climate and enact systematic school reform.

CA Civil Rights Leaders Applaud Appointment of ACLU Attorney as U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge (12/04/2000)
SAN FRANCISCO--Edward M. Chen, a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, has been appointed a United States District Court Magistrate for the San Francisco Division, the ACLU announced today.

In Free Speech Victory, City College Teachers Agree to Dismiss Lawsuit Against Critique Website (10/03/2000)
SAN FRANCISCO--Days before a scheduled hearing in San Francisco Superior Court, the ACLU of Northern California achieved a victory when two City College professors here voluntarily agreed to dismiss their lawsuit against Ryan Lathouwers, the operator of an Internet website where students can post critiques of their teachers.

Civil Rights Groups Denounce California Governor Davis' Racial Profiling Bill (09/26/2000)
Civil rights organizations today denounced California Governor Gray Davis' new racial profiling legislation as useless and vowed to continue working for a data collection bill. Although data collection is widely understood to be essential to track and prevent racial profiling, Governor Davis has adamantly refused to sign a data collection bill, and instead pushed through the legislature a "diversity training" bill for law enforcement. Davis' refusal to sign a data collection bill has been condemned by national civil rights leaders, and his veto of a data collection bill last year ignited grassroots organizing efforts across California.

Government Cannot Punish Doctors Who Recommend Medical Marijuana, CA Court Says (09/08/2000)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- The American Civil Liberties Union today hailed a federal court ruling saying that federal authorities cannot revoke the licenses of California doctors who recommend the medical use of marijuana to their patients.

In Lawsuit, ACLU Says CA's Juvenile Justice Initiative Limits Court Powers (08/31/2000)
SAN FRANCISCO -- In legal papers filed today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California said that Proposition 21 -- the state's Juvenile Crime Initiative -- is unconstitutional because it limits the courts discretion to determine whether a case should be heard in juvenile or criminal court.

ACLU Urges Appeals Court to Reconsider Napster Ruling, Citing Censorship Effect on Internet Users (08/25/2000)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- In a friend-of-the-court brief filed in federal appeals court here today, the American Civil Liberties Union is urging the court to lift an injunction against the popular music-sharing site Napster and to direct the lower court to hear evidence in the case before deciding the difficult issues presented.

California Civil Rights Leaders Applaud Demise of "Toothless" Racial Profiling Bill (08/24/2000)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Civil rights leaders today applauded the demise of a watered-down piece of legislation that purported to address racial profiling but lacked the enforcement mechanism of data collection to make it effective.

Citing Widespread Complaints, CA Civil Rights Groups Expand Landmark Education Lawsuit (08/15/2000)
SAN FRANCISCO -- Responding to a flood of calls from parents appalled at schools plagued by filthy facilities, vermin and outdated textbooks, a coalition of civil rights groups today named nearly 50 more schools in its landmark education lawsuit.

Civil Rights Leaders Urge California's Gov. Davis To Drop Opposition to Data Collection on Racial Profiling (08/08/2000)
"For people of color who have experienced racial profiling, data collection is a tangible sign that their experiences are being taken seriously and will be addressed," said a letter to Gov. Davis signed by 14 civil rights leaders, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., President and Founder, Rainbow Push Coalition, and Raul Yzaguirre, President of National Council of La Raza.

CHP Officers Predict California DWB Compromise Will Lead to More Ticketing of Minorities (06/21/2000)
SACRAMENTO, CA -- According to a story in today's Sacramento Bee, a scaled-down racial profiling bill backed by California Gov. Gray Davis but dismissed as meaningless by leading civil rights groups cleared a key legislative committee Tuesday and now will be considered by the Assembly. The measure, SB 66, by Sen. Kevin Murray, D-Culver City, would require police to give their business cards to motorists they pull over. But officers would not have to record the motorist's ethnicity, as Murray originally had proposed.

ACLU Challenges CA Juvenile Justice Initiative (06/07/2000)
SAN FRANCISCO -- The ACLU of Northern California and other organizations today filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 21 - the Juvenile Crime Initiative. The lawsuit argues that the proposition "violates a core provision of the California Constitution designed to ensure the integrity of the electoral process: its requirement that each initiative embrace only a single subject."

Opposition Mounts to California Compromise on Racial Profiling (06/07/2000)
SACRAMENTO - According to a story in today's Stockton Record, the lawmaker who crafted a compromise with California Gov. Gray Davis to discourage police from singling out minorities for traffic stops vowed Tuesday to continue pushing for the legislation even though civil rights groups oppose it and several Democratic leaders have dropped their support.

California Newspapers Blast Governor's DWB Deal - "Toothless," "Meaningless," "A Cop-out" (05/21/2000)
CALIFORNIA - In the latest in a series of scathing editorials appearing in newspapers throughout California in recent weeks, the San Jose Mercury News today labeled racial profiling legislation gutted at the request of Governor Gray Davis "a flimsy bill that meekly ambles between compromise and pandering."

Intel's Attempt to Muzzle Ex-Worker's E-Mails Violates First Amendment, ACLU Says (05/12/2000)
SAN FRANCISCO -- In a case with important ramifications for workers' rights and for the right of ordinary people to communicate by e-mail, the American Civil Liberties Union today filed a friend-of-the-court brief endorsing the right of Ken Hamidi, a former Intel employee, to air his grievances with the company by sending e-mails to his former co-workers using their work e-mail addresses.

Castro Valley Student Wins First ACLU Youth College Scholarship (04/20/2000)
SAN FRANCISCO -- The American Civil Liberties Union today announced the winners of a nationwide student activist college scholarship competition, awarding eight high school students $4,000 each for outstanding contributions in the struggle for civil liberties and the rights of young people.

Hundreds Turn Out to Condemn Racial Profiling in California Capital (04/14/2000)
SACRAMENTO - According to a story in today's Sacramento Bee, if there ever were a question of whether "DWB" -- driving while black or brown -- is a problem for racial minorities, dozens of speakers at a town hall meeting Thursday evening made it clear that it is.

New Racial Justice Coalition in CA, Angered by Gov.'s Veto, Seeks Passage of Racial Profiling Bill (03/13/2000)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- The American Civil Liberties Union and other major civil rights, grass roots and community organizations today announced the formation of a Racial Justice Coalition to address racial profiling by police through a series of statewide town hall meetings and a demonstration in Sacramento next month.

Latino, Religious Rights Groups Oppose CA Initiative to Ban Same-Gender Marriage (03/02/2000)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Striking back at cynical efforts to garner Latino support for a state ballot initiative to ban recognition of same-sex marriage, Latino civil rights advocates and members of the religious community today placed a full-page advertisement opposing the measure in California's largest Spanish-language newspaper, La Opinion.

ACLU Challenges San Quentin's Secret Execution Procedures (02/14/2000)
SAN FRANCISCO -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California goes to federal court today to argue that journalists and public witnesses have a First Amendment right to witness executions in their entirety and that there is no evidence that media presence jeopardizes prison security or the safety of prison personnel.

ACLU Defends Student Website in Case that Threatens Free Expression on the Internet (01/31/2000)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- In a case with important implications for free speech on the Internet, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California has asked a Superior Court to dismiss a lawsuit aimed at shutting down a website that provides student reviews of the teachers at San Francisco City College.

Black Police Executives Tackle Racial Profiling (12/04/1999)
OAKLAND, CA - The Oakland Tribune reported today that the collection of racial data from traffic stops should be part of any strategy for improving police-community relations according to panelists at a conference on Friday of black law enforcement leaders.

ACLU and Coalition Groups File Suit Against CA Law Enforcement Agencies for Racial Profiling (11/30/1999)
SAN FRANCISCO - Charging civil rights violations as a result of racially motivated traffic stops by California law enforcement officers, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California today filed a federal class action lawsuit against the California Highway Patrol and Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement.

ACLU Urges CA Court to Lift Order Barring Man from Protest on Behalf of Striking Workers (10/25/1999)
SAN FRANCISCO -- In a letter sent today to a Marin County judge, the ACLU of Northern California urged the court to void an order barring a man from engaging in peaceful protest.

ACLU in Court Again to Defend Library Against CA Parent Seeking Internet Censorship (10/19/1999)
SAN FRANCISCO -- In a friend-of-the-court brief filed before a California appeals court, the American Civil Liberties Union is once again joining a unique legal battle over whether a parent can force a public library to censor Internet access of all its patrons in order to control her own child's use of the Internet.

ACLU Announces Settlement in Hmong Family's Lawsuit Against Yuba County Sheriff's Dept. (10/04/1999)
SACRAMENTO -- The settlement of a 1997 police misconduct lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and others on behalf of Yuba County family has resulted in new policies aimed at preventing future abuses by local authorities, the ACLU said today.

ACLU Condemns CA Governor's Stunning Veto of Racial Profiling Bill (09/28/1999)
SACRAMENTO -- The ACLU affiliates in California today condemned Governor Gray Davis's veto of a bill requiring law enforcement to collect data regarding the race and ethnicity of all drivers stopped by the police.

San Francisco Is 34th CA City to Collect Racial Data on Police Traffic Stops (09/16/1999)
SAN FRANCISCO -- In response to the growing controversy over racial profiling, San Francisco police officers will soon begin keeping track of the race of motorists they pull over, the San Francisco Chronicle reported today.

ACLU Urges CA Governor Davis to Pass "Driving While Black or Brown" Bill (09/09/1999)
SACRAMENTO -- Following the state assembly's overwhelming passage of a bill to collect racial data on police traffic stops, the American Civil Liberties Union affiliates of California today urged Gov. Gray Davis to enact this crucial piece of legislation.

ACLU Urges CA Appeals Court to Declare Use of Pepper Spray Dangerous and Cruel (08/12/1999)
SAN FRANCISCO--Non-violent environmental protestors who sued Humboldt County authorities over the use of pepper spray are entitled to a jury trial, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California told a federal appeals court today.

ACLU Urges Sacramento Officials to Defeat Unconstitutional Vehicle Seizure Ordinance (08/09/1999)
SACRAMENTO -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California is urging city officials to reject a proposed ordinance that would allow police to seize, claim and sell the vehicles driven by people accused of using them to solicit prostitution or buy drugs -- even if they are later found innocent.

ACLU Leads Young People on Mission Targeting Teen Homelessness (08/05/1999)
SAN FRANCISCO-- Twenty Northern California high school students will study youth homelessness in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas this summer, on a journey sponsored by the Howard A. Friedman First Amendment Education Project of the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California.

California Court Orders Hearing For Unlawfully Imprisoned Immigrant (07/14/1999)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Ruling that the San Francisco Office of Immigration and Naturalization Service unlawfully incarcerated a Salvadoran immigrant for over a year, a U.S. District Court Judge yesterday ordered the INS to grant the immigrant a hearing to determine whether the asylum applicant could be released while his case is pending.

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