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U.S. Citizen Who Was Illegally Detained and Twice Deported Is Latest Victim of Government's Unconstitutional Immigration Enforcement Policy (10/30/2008)
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – A U.S. citizen who was illegally detained and twice deported to Mexico said immigration officials refused to believe his claim of citizenship, even when his mother traveled to the border to show Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents his birth certificate.

Inmates With Disabilities Face Discrimination In Los Angeles County Jails (05/29/2008)
LOS ANGELES –People with disabilities face inhumane treatment and illegal discrimination in the Los Angeles County jail system because it routinely fails to accommodatetheir needs. Today, civil and disability rights attorneysare filing suit in U.S. District Court to stop the mistreatment.

ACLU/SC Says LAPD Has Not Addressed Root Causes Of Last Year's Melee (05/01/2008)
One year and numerous investigations later, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has still not addressed the root causes of last year’s melee in MacArthur Park in which hundreds of peaceful demonstrators and journalists were beaten and injured by LAPD officers, according to the ACLU of Southern California.

Civil Rights Groups File Lawsuit Over Van Nuys Workplace Raid After ICE Bars Attorneys From Immigration Interviews (02/14/2008)
LOS ANGELES — The ACLU of Southern California, National Lawyers Guild, and National Immigration Law Center asked a federal judge today to order U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to allow attorneys for workers arrested in last Thursday’s raid in Van Nuys to represent their clients at their immigration interviews. Over the past few days, ICE officials barred attorneys from accompanying their clients to the hearings, where workers were interviewed and then charged with immigration violations.

ACLU In Court Today In Lawsuit Against Boeing Subsidiary That Aided CIA “Torture Flights” (02/05/2008)
SAN JOSE, CA - The American Civil Liberties Union will argue in federal court today for the continuation of its case against Boeing subsidiary Jeppesen Dataplan, Inc. for the company’s role in the CIA’s “extraordinary rendition” program. The ACLU is opposing the government’s attempt to throw out the case by misusing the “state secrets” privilege in an effort to avoid legal scrutiny of the unlawful and shameful program.

Paraplegic Man Sues Hospital For “Dumping” Him in Skid Row Gutter Without a Wheelchair (01/17/2008)
LOS ANGELES – Attorneys for Public Counsel, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, and the law firm of Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. filed a lawsuit today against a southern California hospital, Hollywood Presbyterian, on behalf of a paraplegic homeless man who was “dumped” in a skid row gutter. Gabino Olvera, a 42-year-old man with a history of mental illness, was treated and discharged from the hospital in February 2007, transported by van across town in a soiled hospital gown, and deposited on the side of a street without a wheelchair. According to the complaint, witnesses at the scene observed Olvera dragging himself on the ground with his papers clenched in his teeth.

ACLU Argues in Federal Court Today That Prolonged Indefinite Detention of Immigrants Is Illegal (01/07/2008)
PASADENA, CA – In a federal appellate court in California today, the American Civil Liberties Union is arguing that the government is violating the law and the court’s prior rulings by incarcerating immigrants in detention centers for prolonged and indefinite periods of time while they fight their immigration cases.

Muslim Woman Sues San Bernardino County Over Religious Freedom in Jail (12/06/2007)
LOS ANGELES— A 29-year-old Muslim woman who was forced by deputies to remove her religious head covering while she was in custody in San Bernardino County’s West Valley Detention Center, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court Wednesday asserting that her religious freedom rights were violated under the First Amendment by San Bernardino county sheriff’s deputies.

Groups Sue to Stop Excessive Citizenship Delays (12/05/2007)
LOS ANGELES - Many immigrants who have satisfied the requirements to become U.S. citizens are left in limbo for months or years due to slow processing of FBI name checks, according to a class-action lawsuit to be filed in federal court. The delays violate time limits in the law that are meant to reduce naturalization backlogs while ensuring national security.

Ft. Irwin Man Sues for Conscientious Objector Status (10/19/2007)
LOS ANGELES - Attorney Deborah H. Karpatkin and the ACLU of Southern California today filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of a 26-year-old Army specialist being kept in the Army against his Buddhist-Taoist beliefs. The suit seeks to have the man, who enlisted only after being promised that military duties would not conflict with his religious beliefs, discharged as a conscientious objector.

ACLU of Southern California Asks Chapman University to Restore Free Speech Rights to Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity Members (10/03/2007)
ORANGE, CA - The ACLU of Southern California is asking administrators of Chapman University to restore the free speech and association rights of a group of students affiliated with the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity on their campus.

Breakthrough in Case for Children Stuck in Costly Mental Institutions (09/28/2007)
LOS ANGELES - In a breakthrough ruling that affects more than 25,000 California children suffering from serious mental illness, U.S. District Judge A. Howard Matz has ordered an expert to oversee the expansion of home- and community-based mental health services for children who would otherwise end up in costly group homes and institutions.

Government's Response to 2006 FOIA Request on Mosque Spying Slow, Incomplete (09/19/2007)
LOS ANGELES - More than a year ago, leading Muslim Americans requested basic information about FBI surveillance in Southern California, seeking to calm community fears of spying at mosques and surveillance of community groups and community leaders. To date, the government has turned over only four pages of documents.

Illegally Deported U.S. Citizen Pedro Guzman Found After Nearly Three Months in Mexico (08/07/2007)
LOS ANGELES – Pedro Guzman, the U.S. citizen illegally deported from a Los Angeles County jail on May 11, was reunited with his family today at a Lancaster courthouse after nearly three months lost in Mexico. It ends a harrowing three-month search by the family while the ACLU of Southern California and the law firm of Van Der Hout, Brigagliano and Nightingale sought in vain for assistance from the U.S. government.

Court Rejects Threat to Vote Trading Websites (08/06/2007)
LOS ANGELES - In a decision stemming from a dispute during the controversial presidential election of 2000, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today that so-called "vote-swapping" websites are protected by the First Amendment.

Court Upholds Law Making Marijuana Santa Barbara’s Lowest Law Enforcement Priority (07/10/2007)
SANTA BARBARA, CA - The American Civil Liberties Union applauded today’s ruling by a California Superior Court judge to uphold a voter-enacted initiative that directs police to focus resources on serious crime by making marijuana use the lowest law enforcement priority. Citing California’s ban on lawsuits that punish public participation in the political process, the court dismissed the city of Santa Barbara’s challenge of the law, known as Measure P, which was brought against Heather Poet because she was the proponent of the challenged initiative.

Lawsuit Seeks to Stop U.S. From Drugging Immigrants (06/19/2007)
LOS ANGELES — The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and law firm Munger, Tolles and Olson LLP filed a federal class action lawsuit today to stop the government’s policy of forcibly drugging people facing deportation. The suit was brought on behalf of two immigrants who were drugged against their will by U.S. officials and seeks an immediate end to the practice as well as damages for the two men.

Pedro Guzman Still Missing as Family Seeks His Safe Return (06/18/2007)
LOS ANGELES — Pedro Guzman is still missing in Mexico, one week after a lawsuit was filed seeking government help in the search for the 29-year-old mentally impaired man illegally deported May 11. The ACLU of Southern California and law firm Van Der Hout, Brigagliano & Nightingale have asked that government agents assist in the search and request help from Mexican authorities, two steps the U.S. has so far refused to take.

U.S. Citizen Illegally Deported From Jail Is Missing in Mexico (06/11/2007)

ACLU of Southern California Challenges Developer Trying to Evade City Rules (06/06/2007)
LOS ANGELES — With L. A. in a housing crisis, a downtown developer sued the city in February to evade its affordable-housing rules. Today groups filed papers in L.A. Superior Court to prevent G.H. Palmer Associates from shutting downtown’s doors to low- and middle-income Angelenos.

ACLU of Southern California Statement on LAPD MacArthur Park Investigation (05/30/2007)
LOS ANGELES — American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California staff attorney Peter Bibring today criticized the L.A. Police Department’s preliminary after-action report about the May 1 action at MacArthur Park. His expanded remarks to the L.A. City Council are below:

ACLU of Southern California Settles Free Speech Lawsuit Over Cable TV Censorship (05/22/2007)
LOS ALAMITOS — The Los Alamitos City Council voted unanimously yesterday to settle a lawsuit over its censorship of public-access television programming last year. The city agreed to adopt new policies to protect free speech at Los Alamitos Television Corporation, whose LATV Channel 3 is available to Time Warner customers in Los Alamitos and Rossmoor.

ACLU of Southern California Asks Court to Address L.A. Police Action at MacArthur Park (05/17/2007)
LOS ANGELES - Today the ACLU of Southern California asked a judge to evaluate the May 1 actions by the L.A. Police Department's Metropolitan Division in light of the federal consent decree adopted in the wake of the Rampart brutality scandal.

ACLU of Southern California and Public Counsel Settle Lawsuit Over Dumping of Woman on Skid Row (05/15/2007)
LOS ANGELES - Lawyers from the ACLU of Southern California and Public Counsel joined L.A. City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo to announce a settlement in our lawsuit on behalf of a 64-year-old woman found wandering on Skid Row. Delgadillo also announced a settlement of the criminal charges the city filed against Kaiser Permanente, the hospital chain accused of dumping her there. The joint settlements provide new policies that will end alleged patient dumping by Kaiser and establish new model practices for other hospitals to follow.

Gov. Schwarzenegger’s $100-Million Plan Adopts ACLU of Southern California Initiative to Increase College and Career Opportunities for Students (05/14/2007)
LOS ANGELES – Responding to the ACLU of Southern California’s call to improve college and career opportunities for the state’s high school students, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today requested $100 million to strengthen college-prep and career-technical classes. The request came in the May budget revision and follows months of discussions among the governor’s staff, legislators and ACLU representatives that led to the announced proposals.

ACLU Defends Sponsor of Marijuana Initiative from Attack by Santa Barbara City Council (05/08/2007)
SANTA BARBARA, CA – Citing California’s ban on strategic lawsuits against public participation (“SLAPP”), the American Civil Liberties Union today moved to dismiss a legal challenge brought by the Santa Barbara City Council seeking to thwart a new law, enacted through voter initiative, that directs police to focus resources on violent and serious crime by making marijuana use the lowest law enforcement priority. The Council’s lawsuit was brought against the initiative’s sponsor based solely on her participation in the political process.

ACLU of Southern California Learns Immigrants Are Forcibly Drugged for Deportation (05/08/2007)
LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California has learned that two immigrants were forcibly sedated by the United States government. Raymond Soeoth and Amadou Diouf, clients in an ACLU of Southern California lawsuit, revealed that they had both been drugged involuntarily during attempts to deport them.

Santa Barbara Police Agree to Protect Protestors’ Rights (04/05/2007)
LOS ANGELES – Michael Tocher was a peaceful man with a megaphone and a message of protest when Santa Barbara police arrested him on Veterans Day in 2004. Today the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California announced a settlement of its lawsuit against the city over his wrongful arrest.

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.

ACLU and GSA Network Clear the Way for Gay-Straight Alliance Club in Madera, California (03/14/2007)
MADERA, CA – After students attempted for almost two years to gain recognition for a gay-straight alliance club (GSA) at Madera High School, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and GSA Network announced today that they have secured an agreement with the school board to allow the club to exist. The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and GSA Network negotiated on behalf of about 10 students who had been trying to gain recognition since the spring of 2005 for the club, which hopes to provide a safe haven for students to discuss lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues.

California Judge Ends 20-Year-Old Deportation Case Against Palestinians (01/30/2007)
LOS ANGELES - In a strong rebuke to the federal government, a Los Angeles immigration judge today ordered an end to deportation proceedings against two members of the so-called "Los Angeles Eight," a group of immigrants who were targeted by the government 20 years ago for engaging in political speech and supporting Palestinian rights.

After 25 Years, FBI Finally Releases Last 10 Documents in John Lennon FBI File (12/20/2006)
LOS ANGELES - After nearly 25 years since the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California sued the FBI for the release of its files on John Lennon, the Bureau has finally made public the last 10 documents it maintained on the legendary English rock star.

Trial for Orange County Teen 'Outed' by Principal Concludes (12/12/2006)
ORANGE, CA - The trial of an Orange County teenager who filed a lawsuit last year against the Garden Grove Unified School District in an effort to stop discrimination and harassment of gay and lesbian students on campus concluded Tuesday.

ACLU of Southern California Acts to Stop Arbitrary Skid Row Searches (12/08/2006)
LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, civil rights attorney Carol Sobel, and law firm Hadsell & Stormer today asked a court to extend a 2003 agreement that prohibits L.A. police from searching Skid Row residents without reasonable suspicion that they have committed a crime or violated parole or probation.

California High School Journalists Win Free Speech Victory (11/16/2006)
LOS ANGELES - A Kern County judge is expected to issue a court order today that will ensure that Bakersfield high school students are not wrongly censored and that student free speech rights in the Kern School District are preserved.

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 Southern California Denounces Police Brutality Captured on Video (11/09/2006)
LOS ANGELES - The following statement can be attributed to Ramona Ripston, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California.

Judge Orders County to End Inhumane Overcrowding in Los Angeles County Jails (10/27/2006)
LOS ANGELES -- In response to the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California's concerns about severe overcrowding in the Los Angeles County jail system, a federal judge today ordered that the county immediately end its unconstitutional practices in the jail's central processing hub.

ACLU Calls for Correction of Damaging Letter to Orange County Voters (10/20/2006)
ORANGE, CA. -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today asked Secretary of State Bruce McPherson and Orange County Registrar Neal Kelley to immediately correct a damaging letter sent to thousands of registered voters in Orange County earlier this month. The letter, written in Spanish and purportedly sent by a group called the California Coalition for Immigration Reform, said that immigrants could face jail time and deportation if they showed up at the polls on Election Day.

ACLU Challenges Indefinite Detention in Southern California Facilities (10/09/2006)
LOS ANGELES - Acting on behalf of four immigrant detainees who are being held indefinitely in Southern California, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, the ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project and the Stanford Law School Immigrants' Rights Clinic today said they have asked a federal judge to put an immediate end to the illegal detention.

Landmark Privacy Bill Wins Bipartisan Support From California Lawmakers; ACLU Calls on Governor to Sign ‘RFID’ Law (08/31/2006)
SACRAMENTO - The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today applauded the State Legislature for passing the first bill in the country to require privacy and security protections for the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags in government-issued ID's. The bill passed last night in the Senate with a strong vote of 30-7 after passing out of the Assembly with a bipartisan vote of 49-26 on August 21. The landmark privacy bill is now heading for the governor's desk.

ACLU and Orange County Buddhists Challenge Discriminatory City Ordinance (08/09/2006)
ORANGE, CA - The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today sued the city of Garden Grove for using an unconstitutional city code to prevent local Buddhists from expanding their congregation.

Southern Californians Demand Citizenship After Excessive Delays (08/01/2006)
LOS ANGELES - On behalf of a U.S. military veteran, a medical doctor, small business owners and others who have been illegally denied citizenship, the America Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, the ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project and the Council on American-Islamic Relations filed a class action lawsuit today against the federal government.

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.

Federal Judge in California Grants Citizenship to Palestinian Man After 20 Years (06/23/2006)
LOS ANGELES – In an historic case, a federal judge ruled today that a Palestinian man who came to the United States more than two decades ago seeking a better future should become a U.S. citizen. The man, Aiad Barakat, is one of the so-called L.A. 8, a group of eight people who were targeted by the government nearly 20 years ago for engaging in political speech and supporting Palestinian rights.

ACLU Denounces Supreme Court Ruling in Whistleblower Case (05/30/2006)
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union criticized a ruling by the Supreme Court today that First Amendment protections do not apply to public employees who report government misconduct. The ACLU said the ruling seriously undermines the rights of whistleblowers who risk their careers to protect the public interest.

ACLU of Southern California and Religious Groups Seek Answers About Government Spying on Mosques (05/15/2006)
LOS ANGELES – In an effort to calm the fears of worshipers, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today filed a Freedom of Information Act request seeking answers from the FBI about suspected monitoring of religious institutions.

ACLU of Southern California Wins Historic Victory in Homeless Rights Case (04/14/2006)
LOS ANGELES -- The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a historic decision today in a case filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and the National Lawyers Guild seeking an end to the criminalization of people who sleep on the streets when no shelter is available.

California Judge Confirms Police Officers' Rights Were Violated By Hidden Locker Room Camera (04/04/2006)
LOS ANGELES – In a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, a federal judge ruled late Tuesday that Ontario police officers' rights under both federal and state law were violated when a police detective installed a video camera in a men's locker room to spy on the officers.

Court Says 'No' to Indefinite Detention (03/17/2006)
LOS ANGELES - The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today unanimously ordered the immediate release of a Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seeker and torture victim who has been imprisoned by the government for nearly five years.

Gay Airline Employee Denied Free Roundtrip Tickets Won at Northwest Airlines Holiday Party (02/09/2006)
LOS ANGELES – Northwest Airlines violated California's anti-discrimination laws when it refused to allow a gay couple to use tickets an employee won at a holiday party, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California said today in a letter urging the company to change its policies.

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.

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.

Federal Judge Rules That High Schools Cannot Out Lesbian and Gay Students (12/01/2005)
LOS ANGELES – A federal judge has ruled that an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit filed on behalf of Charlene Nguon, an Orange County high school senior, and the Gay-Straight Alliance Network can proceed, rejecting the school’s motion that it was within its rights to reveal the student’s sexual orientation without her permission.

Department of Homeland Security Continues to Infringe on Whistleblower Rights, ACLU Says (11/09/2005)
LOS ANGELES - In a court motion filed today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California is seeking to block a new Department of Homeland Security policy that overly restricts the free speech rights of Federal Air Marshals. The ACLU charged that the policy will prevent whistleblowers from reporting mismanagement or wrongdoing and is likely to jeopardize public safety.

As a Result of Lawsuit, School Agrees to Allow Publication of Articles on Sexual Orientation (11/04/2005)
LOS ANGELES - East Bakersfield High School students will publish a series of articles about sexual orientation in the November edition of the award-winning school newspaper, The Kernal, editors announced today.

ACLU of Southern California Demands That School Allow Student to Distribute Flyers Opposed to Military Recruiters (10/28/2005)
LOS ANGELES - Acting on behalf of a South Bay high school student and his parents, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today sent a letter to the Manhattan Beach Unified School District demanding that school officials allow the student to distribute counter-military recruiting flyers without fear of punishment.

ACLU Urges Supreme Court to Support Public Employees' Right to Expose Police Misconduct (10/12/2005)
LOS ANGELES - In a case being argued before the U.S. Supreme Court today, the American Civil Liberties Union submitted a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of public employees' First Amendment rights to expose corruption on the job.

ACLU and NCLR Halt Legal Action After Promise from California Adoption Agency that It Won't Discriminate (10/05/2005)
LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union and the National Center for Lesbian Rights announced today that they would no longer pursue legal action against an Orange County-based adoption agency after the agency signed a binding agreement with the state that it would no longer discriminate against applicants based on sexual orientation.

Civil Rights Groups Offer Parents Legal Support in Battle to Avoid Segregation in Southern California School District (09/27/2005)
ORANGE, CA -- Four civil rights groups today filed a motion on behalf of a racially and ethnically diverse group of parents who support the Capistrano Unified School District's (CUSD) ability to consider race to avoid segregated schools when drawing up new boundaries for attendance.

Following ACLU Action, Pasadena to Allow Residents to Hang Political Signs (09/27/2005)
LOS ANGELES - Following a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, a Pasadena couple who was forced to remove a sign questioning the war in Iraq from the exterior of their home will be allowed to hang it from their home once again, according to the city attorney.

ACLU Challenges Burbank Policy of Pursuing Prosecutions of Innocent Medical Marijuana Patients (09/22/2005)
BURBANK, CA - Confronted with the prospect of a jury trial set to begin next week, a Burbank city attorney today dropped charges against medical marijuana patient Valerie Corral. The American Civil Liberties Union, which represents Corral, was poised to challenge Burbank's illegal policy of pursuing prosecutions against medical marijuana patients known to be innocent. Despite having dropped the charges against Corral, the city attorney continues to insist that she is guilty and has refused to order police to return her seized medical marijuana.

ACLU of Southern California and Fresno School Officials Reach Agreement to Counter Anti-Gay Prejudice (09/14/2005)
LOS ANGELES -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and the Gay-Straight Alliance Network today announced an agreement with the Fresno Unified School District to take steps to eliminate anti-gay discrimination from Fresno campuses after receiving multiple complaints from students who were harassed, in some cases by school officials, because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation.

Pasadena to Residents: Watch What You Say (09/14/2005)
LOS ANGELES -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and a Pasadena couple that was forced to remove a sign on their home questioning the war in Iraq filed a federal lawsuit today in seeking a court order blocking the city from enforcing a municipal code that is counter to the First Amendment.

ACLU Sues Southern California School District to Stop Unequal Treatment of Gay and Lesbian Students (09/07/2005)
LOS ANGELES -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, an Orange County high school senior, and the Gay-Straight Alliance Network filed a lawsuit today against the Garden Grove Unified School District in an effort to stop discrimination and harassment of gay and lesbian students on campus.

ACLU/SC and OC High School Students File Suit to Stop District's Unequal Treatment of Gay and Lesbian Students (09/07/2005)

Innocent Civilian Held in Iraq Released Days After ACLU Files Lawsuit (09/06/2005)
LOS ANGELES -- The American Civil Liberties Union today celebrated the release of a long-time U.S. resident who was being held in Iraq by the U.S. military. The release came less than a week after the ACLU filed a lawsuit against top U.S. officials, almost two months after a military court declared Numan Adnan Al Kaby innocent and just two days before a judge was to hear his case in Washington.

ACLU Calls On U.S. Government to Release Innocent Civilian Held in Iraq (08/31/2005)
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit today against top U.S. officials demanding the release of a legal permanent resident of the United States who is in custody in a U.S. military jail in Iraq after being declared innocent by a military court eight weeks ago.

American Detained in Iraq Released Following ACLU Action (07/10/2005)
LOS ANGELES -- Following a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, Los Angeles documentary filmmaker and Navy veteran Cyrus Kar and his cameraman were released today after more than 50 days held by U.S. military forces in an Iraqi detention center.

California Supreme Court Clears the Way for Comprehensive Domestic Partnership Protections for Same-Sex Couples (06/29/2005)
SACRAMENTO -- The California Supreme Court today refused to hear an appeal in a case by anti-gay activists challenging the state's comprehensive domestic partnership protections for same-sex couples. The Court's order cleared the only remaining hurdle to the law, which became effective in January, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

Iranian American "Know Your Rights" Campaign Launched By National Organizations (06/02/2005)
LOS ANGELES -- At a breakfast briefing this morning the American Civil Liberties Union and leaders of the Iranian American community launched a ""Know Your Rights"" Campaign designed to address community-specific concerns.

Discriminatory Bank Policy Prohibits Foreigners from Receiving Credit, ACLU Charges (05/24/2005)
LOS ANGELES -- What do Yao Ming and Russell Crowe have in common? They, like Laguna Niguel resident Janice Rooney, can't get a credit card from the Union Bank of California. Despite incredible wealth, or good credit in the case of Rooney, Union Bank won't extend you credit if you are not a U.S. citizen, the American Civil Liberties Union said today in a lawsuit filed on Rooney's behalf.

ACLU of Southern California Sues DHS Secretary Chertoff Over Free Speech Rights for Federal Air Marshals (04/21/2005)
LOS ANGELES -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today filed a lawsuit on behalf of Air Marshal Frank Terreri, who is seeking a ban on Federal Air Marshal Service rules that prohibit him from speaking publicly about his job or saying anything in connection with the Air Marshal Service.

ACLU and Teachers Seek Answers About Military Recruiters at Los Angeles Public Schools (03/29/2005)
LOS ANGELES - Citing concerns that military recruiters are targeting low-income students and students of color on the campuses of public schools in Los Angeles County, a group of teachers, parents, students and the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California joined together to demand more information about how the military recruits public school students.

Following ACLU Action, University of California Ends Ban on Political Protest Abroad (01/25/2005)
LOS ANGELES - Under pressure from the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, the University of California announced that it will no longer tell students studying abroad that they are prevented from participating in political demonstrations, the ACLU said today.

California Students Informed of Right to Fair Education (01/03/2005)
LOS ANGELES - As students return to school today, a new mandate takes effect requiring all California public schools to post notices informing students and their parents of certain basic education requirements, including access for all students to books and other learning materials, trained teachers, and clean and safe classrooms.

Santa Monica Housing Authority Agrees to End Discrimination Against Gay Couple (12/09/2004)
LOS ANGELES - In response to a letter from the American Civil Liberties Union, the Housing Authority of Santa Monica today agreed to allow a gay man on disability to live with his partner of 10 years.

ACLU and California Officials Reach Settlement in Historic Equal Education Lawsuit (08/13/2004)
LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union and California officials today announced they had reached a settlement agreement in the class action education lawsuit Williams v. California.

ACLU of Southern California Plans to Represent Muslims and Others Targeted for New Round of FBI Questioning (07/27/2004)
LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today announced that it is offering free legal representation to all persons in the Southern California area who are questioned by the FBI in its latest dragnet interview program.

ACLU of Southern California Presses For Answers on Border Patrol Sweeps (07/20/2004)
LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today filed a Freedom of Information Act request seeking information from U.S. Customs and Border Protection about recent immigration raids conducted across Southern California.

Federal Appeals Court Upholds ACLU Charge That Cross in Mojave Federal Preserve Violates Constitution (06/07/2004)
LOS ANGELES - A federal appeals court today upheld a lower court's ruling that the presence of a large Christian cross on the federal Mojave Desert Preserve is an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion.

ACLU of Southern California Wins Release for Native American Inmate Who Refused on Religious Grounds to Cut His Hair (05/26/2004)
LOS ANGELES - In a stinging rebuke to the California Department of Corrections, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today ordered the release of Billy Soza Warsoldier, a Cahuilla Native American who had refused prison orders to cut his hair short because of his religious beliefs. Prison officials had delayed his May 21st release after Warsoldier fought the policy.

ACLU Joins Landmark International Human Rights Cases Before the U.S. Supreme Court (03/29/2004)
WASHINGTON - Marking the first time the Supreme Court has been asked to review whether federal courts have jurisdiction to hear human rights claims brought by foreign citizens, the American Civil Liberties Union is co-counsel in two closely watched international human rights law cases that will come before the Court tomorrow.

In First Amendment Victory, Appeals Court Nixes Mattel's Attempt to Block Artist's Use of Barbie Dolls (12/29/2003)
LOS ANGELES-- The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today hailed an appeal court ruling in favor of artist Tom Forsythe in a case involving toy giant Mattel's attempt to suppress his use of the Barbie doll in his artwork.

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.

Federal Appeals Court Agrees to Speed ACLU's Request For Hearing on "Punch Card" Voting Machines Case (08/28/2003)
LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California said today that the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has granted its request for an expedited hearing in the "punch card" voting machines case.

ACLU of Southern CA Appeals Punch Card Voting Case, Saying Error-Prone Machines Will Lead to Voter Disenfranchisement and "Florida-Style" Election Debacle (08/27/2003)
LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today asked a federal appeals court to review a lower court's refusal to postpone the October 7 gubernatorial recall election until all of the state's outmoded "punch card" voting machines can be replaced.

ACLU Files Federal Lawsuit Challenging Use of Obsolete "Punch Card" Voting Machines in California Recall Election (08/07/2003)
LOS ANGELES - With a gubernatorial recall election pending in the state, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today filed a lawsuit challenging the continued use of outdated, obsolete voting machines in counties with high concentrations of minority voters.

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.

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.

ACLU Files Discrimination Lawsuit on Behalf of Lesbian Couple Treated Unfairly by CA Adoption Agency (05/01/2003)
LOS ANGELES--The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California together with the ACLU of San Diego today filed a lawsuit against an Orange County adoption agency for discriminating against a lesbian couple who sought to adopt children currently under foster care.

ACLU of Southern California Sets Up Hotline For Iraqi-Americans Seeking Legal Assistance With FBI Interviews (03/26/2003)
LOS ANGELES -- Concerned that federal law enforcement may be engaging in ethnic profiling, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and other civil rights groups today said that they will provide free legal advice to Iraqi immigrants, Iraqi Americans and others who may be contacted by the FBI for questioning.

After High Court Upholds Harsh "Three Strikes" Sentencing Law, ACLU of Southern CA Vows Reform Efforts (03/05/2003)
LOS ANGELES - Reacting to a Supreme Court ruling upholding California's harsh "three strikes" law, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today vowed to work toward the much-needed reforms that the Justices failed to institute.

ACLU of Southern CA Applauds Santa Monica and Claremont for Becoming 34th, 35th Localities to Pass Resolutions Critical of USA PATRIOT Act (02/12/2003)
LOS ANGELES--In resolutions passed by their city councils last night, the cities of Santa Monica and Claremont became the second and third localities in Southern California and the 34th and 35th localities in the country to oppose anti-civil liberties portions of the USA PATRIOT Act.

CA Boy Scouts Acquired Taxpayer Funds Under False Pretenses, ACLU Lawsuit Suit Charges (01/28/2003)
RIVERSIDE, CA - In documents unsealed in federal court today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California charged a local chapter of the Boy Scouts of America with fraud because it obtained taxpayer funds knowing that the organization's rules would not allow it to comply with state and federal non-discrimination laws.

West Hollywood is First Southern CA City to Pass Resolution Opposing PATRIOT Act (01/22/2003)
LOS ANGELES - In a unanimous vote last night, the City Council of West Hollywood passed a resolution regarding the civil liberties dangers of the USA PATRIOT Act, becoming the first Southern California city to join a growing movement across the nation of local jurisdictions respond to the Act's civil liberties threats.

Southern CA Civil Rights Groups Call for End to Misguided "Special Registration" Program for Non-Immigrant Visa Holders (12/19/2002)
LOS ANGELES - A coalition of civil liberties and advocacy groups including the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today called on the Department of Justice to scrap the flawed and misguided INS Special Call-In Registration program or, at a minimum, extend the deadlines for registration so that the regulations in the program can be corrected.

ACLU Sues on Behalf of CA 8th Grader Barred from Gym Class Because of Sexual Orientation (12/17/2002)
LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and the National Center for Lesbian Rights today filed a lawsuit on behalf of Ashly Massey, an eighth grader from the rural town of Banning who was forced to sit in the principal's office during physical education class after the gym teacher heard that she was a lesbian.

Federal Court in CA Blocks Government from Denying Airport Screener Jobs to Qualified Noncitizens (11/15/2002)
LOS ANGELES - A federal district judge today sided with the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and other civil rights groups in granting a court order that would allow qualified, noncitizen airport screeners to remain on the job or be considered for jobs they lost as a result of a federal law that would require all airport screeners to be United States citizens.

ACLU Hails Victory as CA Court Allows Non-Citizen Baggage Screeners to Remain Eligible for Jobs (11/13/2002)
LOS ANGELES - A federal district judge has sided with the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and a coalition of civil rights groups by ruling that their constitutional challenge to the government's exclusion of qualified non-citizen baggage screeners from eligibility for federal airport screener posts may go forward.

Federal Judge in CA Rebuffs United Airline's Plea To Dismiss ACLU Discrimination Case (10/11/2002)
LOS ANGELES - A federal district judge today denied a motion to dismiss a civil rights lawsuit charging that United Airlines discriminated against a passenger.

ACLU Sues AMC Theaters for Ejecting Afghan American College Students from a Movie Theater (08/29/2002)
LOS ANGELES -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and the law firm of Ross, Dixon & Bell today filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of two American college students of Afghan descent who were ejected from an AMC movie theater in an Orange County mall for ""speaking in a foreign tongue"" and looking ""suspicious.""

In Groundbreaking Federal Lawsuit Settlement, School Agrees To Strongest Anti-Gay Harassment Program in Nation (08/13/2002)
VISALIA, CA -- The Visalia Unified School District has agreed to adopt sweeping reforms to address anti-gay harassment, including groundbreaking measures to train staff and students with the goal of preventing harassment before it happens, the American Civil Liberties Union announced today.

ACLU of Southern California Stands Up for Anti-Sweatshop Advocates' Free Speech (04/25/2002)
LOS ANGELES--In a lawsuit filed today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California has taken up the defense of anti-sweatshop advocates wrongfully sued by national clothing retailer Forever 21 (also known as "Fashion 21"), for championing the cause of underpaid garment workers. 

ACLU of Southern California Launches Latina Rights Project (03/08/2002)
LOS ANGELES -- Using International Women's Day as a symbolic backdrop, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today announced the launch of its Latina Rights Project as a response to shifting demographics and the dearth in the amount of legal supports available to minority communities. 

"Let Me Serve My Country" (01/17/2002)
LOS ANGELES--My name is Jeimy Gebin. I am 21 years old and I live in Hawthorne, California with my husband and two-year old son, both of whom are U.S. citizens. I have been employed as a screener for Globe Security at Los Angeles International Airport since September 2001. I am stationed in Terminal 4 at LAX, where I provide security for passengers of American Airlines. 

ACLU and Union Challenge New Citizenship Requirement for Airport Screeners (01/17/2002)
LOS ANGELES - A new federal law requiring airport screeners to be U.S. citizens is unconstitutional and discriminatory, according to a lawsuit filed today by the American Civil Liberties Union, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and nine screeners from two major California airports. 

Citizenship Requirement for Airport Screeners Will Not Improve Our Security (01/17/2002)
LOS ANGELES--The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and the Service Employees International Union, together with the National, Northern California and San Diego offices of the ACLU, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium, and the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund, have this morning filed a federal civil rights suit in District Court in Los Angeles, seeking to enjoin the citizenship requirement of the recently enacted Aviation and Transportation Security Act. 

Free Speech Groups, Artists Protest Removal of "War" Exhibit By City of Los Angeles and Watts Towers Arts Center (10/11/2001)
LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, the National Coalition Against Censorship, the First Amendment Project of Oakland, CA and a large number of local and national artists announced today that they are protesting the removal of Alex Donis' exhibit, "WAR," from the Watts Towers Art Center. The exhibit was removed because it was deemed offensive by community members. 

Court Allows CA Schools Lawsuit to Proceed as a Class Action, Making Case Largest Education Lawsuit (10/02/2001)
LOS ANGELES --A California Supreme Court has granted the motion for class certification in an education rights lawsuit, allowing thousands of California public school students to be represented in the action against the state of California, the American Civil Liberties Union said today.

ACLU of Southern California Establishes Hotline for Discrimination Complaints (09/20/2001)
LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California announced today that broad, diverse coalitions at the national and local levels are emerging to advocate for a careful, balanced, and deliberative approach to questions of security and civil liberties and civil rights.

California Community Group Wins Right to Engage in Free Speech Activities on July 4 (07/03/2001)
LOS ANGELES - People for Community Empowerment, a coalition organizing around energy and other community issues, will be able to go ahead with a rally and parade starting at El Dorado Park in Long Beach on July 4, after winning a temporary restraining order yesterday against the City of Long Beach. 

ACLU of Southern California Sues to Stop Intrusive Searches at High School (06/19/2001)
LOS ANGELES - Students at Locke High School here, who are routinely subjected to intrusive searches of their persons, papers, and belongings, took action today as plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed on their behalf in federal court by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California. 

ACLU Racial Profiling Lawsuit in CA is Already Showing Results (05/29/2001)
LOS ANGELES--A federal class action lawsuit that charges that the California Highway Patrol uses racially biased patrolling standards is challenging fundamental drug war tactics in California, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Los Angeles High School Senior is Among 12 Winners of ACLU College Scholarship for Youth Activism (05/23/2001)
LOS ANGELES - - The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today announced that Tamika McDonald of Manual Arts High School is one of 12 seniors nationwide to be awarded a $4,000 college scholarship in recognition of her exceptional contributions to the struggle to defend civil liberties. ston, Executive Director of the ACLU of Southern California. "We are inspired by and proud of Tamika McDonald's energy, contributions and commitment to take on the struggle of defending civil liberties. Her commitment gives us faith that today's young people are dedicated to defending civil liberties and civil rights."

ACLU Files CA Voting Rights Lawsuit, Saying Punch Cards Belong in Junkyard, Not Voting Booth (04/16/2001)
LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union affiliates of Northern California, San Diego and Southern California joined forces today to challenge the state's flawed and discriminatory voting system. 

ACLU Sues Federal Government Over Christian Cross in Mojave National Preserve (03/22/2001)
LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California filed a lawsuit in federal court today seeking to compel National Park Service officials to remove a large cross installed in the Mojave National Preserve in San Bernardino County. 

California Bill Revives Gay Marriage Battle (03/01/2001)
SACRAMENTO, CA -- A California state legislator on Thursday unveiled a new ``civil union'' bill designed to extend marriage-like protections to gay couples, Reuters reported.

CA Civil Rights Groups Praise Strong New Racial Profiling Bill (02/28/2001)
LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights groups today heralded the introduction of new piece of legislation that will move California forward in its effort to curb the pernicious practice of racial profiling in traffic stops, an issue that persists throughout California.

ACLU Wins Dismissal of Landlord's Retaliatory Lawsuit Against Los Angeles Tenant Activists (02/26/2001)
LOS ANGELES--A judge today dismissed a lawsuit against a local tenants' association and its members, who were being sued by the owner of an apartment complex in retaliation for their advocacy on behalf of the low-income tenants, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California announced today. 

Disney Employees Object to Police Screenings (02/26/2001)
ANAHEIM, CA -- Anaheim police are under fire for requiring bartenders, janitors and other employees of alcohol-selling establishments to carry city-issued identification cards as well as provide officers with fingerprints and personal information, the Los Angeles Times reported.

ACLU Sues Over Vacancy on L.A. City Council, Saying Residents Have Lost Voice and Vote (01/29/2001)
LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California filed a lawsuit today in federal court, saying that residents of the 13th Council District have been deprived of representation by the City Council's refusal to fill the seat.

ACLU Denounces California's Blame-Shifting Strategy in Education Case (12/12/2000)
LOS ANGELES - Seven months after the American Civil Liberties Union sued California for failing to provide an equal and adequate education to thousands of children, the state today filed a lawsuit against the 18 school districts where the ACLU's clients attend school.

ACLU Seeks Permanent Court Order on Issue of Online Voter Matching (11/27/2000)
LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California filed an amended complaint today in its defense of "vote-swapping" website creators and participants who were threatened with criminal prosecution for their activities.

ACLU and Disability Rights Group File Class-Action Lawsuit Against Los Angeles County Transit Authority Over Poor Service to People with Disabilities (11/16/2000)
LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and the Western Law Center for Disability Rights, Protection and Advocacy Inc., filed a major class action lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and its provider of paratransit services, Access Services, Inc. here in federal court today.

ACLU of Southern California Reacts to Report by Police Commission's Independent Review Panel (11/16/2000)
LOS ANGELES - We are pleased that several of the recommendations made by the Police Commission's Independent Review Panel closely tracks the calls for reform made over the years by the American Civil Liberties Union.

ACLU Disappointed With Court Decision Regarding CA Shutdown of Voteswap 2000 (11/06/2000)
LOS ANGELES -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California is sorely disappointed by the court's decision to deny a temporary restraining order against California Secretary of State Bill Jones, who threatened criminal prosecution against Voteswap 2000, a voter discussion and strategizing web site. 

ACLU Charges Political Censorship, Challenges CA's Shutdown of Votexchange.com (11/02/2000)
LOS ANGELES - The ACLU affiliates of Southern California and San Diego announced today that they will seek a temporary restraining order against California Secretary of State Bill Jones, who threatened criminal prosecution against a voter discussion and strategizing web site called Voteswap 2000.

ACLU Persuades National Park Service to Remove Christian Cross from Mojave Preserve Site (10/31/2000)
LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California succeeded this week in persuading the National Park Service to respect religious diversity and the First Amendment by removing a Christian cross from the Mojave National Preserve in San Bernardino County.

ACLU Asks Court to Lift Gag Order in California Murder Case (10/25/2000)
LOS ANGELES--The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California filed a friend of the court brief today on behalf of attorney Tony Capozzola, who is under a gag order that prevents him from discussing a client's case or any related issues, such as mental health, with the media.

Los Angeles' Ban On "For Sale" Signs Is Suspended By Court (10/16/2000)
LOS ANGELES - In a ringing endorsement of free speech, a federal court judge today made clear that he would halt the enforcement of Los Angeles Municipal Code, which prohibits placing "For Sale" signs in cars parked on Los Angeles city streets.

New ACLU Report Says CA's Proposed Voucher Program Leaves Neediest Behind (10/11/2000)
LOS ANGELES--In a new report debunking the promises of a proposed ballot initiative authorizing private and religious school vouchers, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today said that the program will not address serious inequalities in California schools.

Court Ruling Allows Inmate to Press Abuse Lawsuit in ACLU Challenge to Restriction on Prisoners' Rights (10/06/2000)
LOS ANGELES--The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California announced success today in its challenge to the retroactive application of a law restricting prisoners lawsuits in a civil rights case brought by an inmate at the notorious Corcoran State Prison.

ACLU Forces CA Department of Alcoholic Beverages Control Out of Censorship Business (09/25/2000)
LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today reached a settlement in a case where city officials in Palm Springs took a back-door route to censoring an erotic arts exhibition during late July and early August of 1997.

Judge Says No to Mattel's Effort to Stop Artist's Photographic Critiques of Barbie (09/25/2000)
Preliminary Injunction Denied in Case of Artist Tom Forsythe

In Case Brought on Behalf of CA's Poor, ACLU Wins Changes to Punitive 'Family Cap' Welfare Rule (09/15/2000)
LOS ANGELES, CA -- State welfare "reform" policies that sought to prevent families on welfare from having more children will be less punitive and capricious as a result of a settlement approved by the court yesterday, in a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and others on behalf of poor women and children statewide.

Back to School Without Books: Many CA Students Still Lack Textbooks, ACLU Charges (09/12/2000)
LOS ANGELES--Civil rights groups filed legal papers today seeking to require California education officials to ascertain whether public school students have textbooks to use in class and at home in each of their core subjects.

ACLU Lauds Appeals Court Ruling Granting Asylum for Gay Man Persecuted for Sexual Orientation (08/25/2000)
LOS ANGELES, CA -- A unanimous federal appeals court has granted asylum for a gay Mexican man who was persecuted because of his sexual orientation, in a ruling lauded by the American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights groups.

ACLU Sues LAPD For Attacks on Press, Saying Police Targeted Media (08/16/2000)
LOS ANGELES -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California filed a lawsuit in federal court today against the Los Angeles Police Department for its attacks Monday night on members of the media.

ACLU Wins Key Battle in Case to Protect Free Speech In Citizen Complaints About Police (08/11/2000)
LOS ANGELES -- The ACLU of Southern California won a key victory this week in their challenge to the Constitutionality of a state law that makes it a misdemeanor to knowingly file a false allegation of misconduct against a peace officer.

ACLU Seeks Court Order to Stop LAPD from Harassing and Intimidating Convention Protesters (08/10/2000)
LOS ANGELES -- The ACLU of Southern California filed a federal lawsuit today seeking a restraining order to stop the Los Angeles Police Department's harassment and intimidation of protesters at and near the protesters' organizing headquarters.

In Landmark Settlement, ACLU Wins New Guarantees For Mobility Impaired Bus Passengers in Los Angeles (08/10/2000)
LOS ANGELES -- The ACLU of Southern California today announced a landmark settlement with county transit officials in a legal fight to guarantee access to city bus lines for passengers who use wheelchairs or other assistive devices.

ACLU Warns Los Angeles Police Department: Stop Harassing Protesters (08/07/2000)
LOS ANGELES -- In a letter sent today to the Los Angeles Police Department, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California is demanding that officials immediately stop harassing Democratic National Convention protesters at their organizing headquarters here.

Federal Judge Requires Los Angeles to Follow First Amendment During the Democratic National Convention (07/20/2000)
LOS ANGELES -- A federal judge issued a written order today requiring city officials to accommodate free speech during the Democratic National Convention and prohibiting the city's current park use and parade permit granting schemes.

ACLU of Southern CA Commends High Court's Affirmation of Miranda Rights in Two Key Cases (06/26/2000)
LOS ANGELES -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California applauded the U.S. Supreme Court's dual affirmation of suspects' Miranda rights in two decisions issued today.

ACLU and Rights Groups Suing CA Education Officials Launch Hotline for Parents, Teachers & Students (06/20/2000)
LOS ANGELES -- Civil rights groups who filed the landmark California education lawsuit today announced a statewide toll-free hotline for parents, teachers, and students whose schools have failed to offer the bare minimum conditions for successful learning, ranging from a lack of textbooks, to untrained teachers, to filthy, run-down buildings.

GeoCities Founder Funds New ACLU Fellowship (06/14/2000)
LOS ANGELES -- The David Bohnett Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today announced the creation of the Bohnett Fellowship at the ACLU of Southern California, a staff attorney position that will focus on gay and lesbian civil rights litigation.

Landmark Lawsuit on Behalf of Public School Students Demands Basic Education Rights Promised in State Constitution (05/17/2000)
LOS ANGELES--Acting on behalf of nearly 70 students in the California public schools, a coalition of civil rights groups today filed the most comprehensive lawsuit to date concerning the bare minimums required for education ever to be brought against a state.

Yahoo! Lawsuit Strikes an Important Blow For Internet Privacy and Free Speech (05/11/2000)
NEW YORK--A federal lawsuit filed today in California could establish important protections for Internet privacy and anonymity, according to the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC).

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

Federal Appeals Court Bans Race-Based Border Stops (04/12/2000)
LOS ANGELES - According to a story in today's Los Angeles Times, Border Patrol agents may not consider an person "Hispanic appearance" as a factor in deciding whether to stop motorists for questioning near the U.S.-Mexico border, a federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday.

CHP Officer Blasts Racial Profiling at DWB Forum in Southern California (04/05/2000)
NORTHRIDGE-The Los Angeles Times reported today that a forum on Tuesday at Cal State Northridge featured several speakers, including a California Highway Patrol Officer, relating their experiences with racial profiling.

In Groundbreaking Settlement, California Must Guarantee Equal Education for All (03/21/2000)
LOS ANGELES -- Under the settlement terms of a groundbreaking lawsuit, students lacking books, restroom facilities and even teachers will now be guaranteed the right to an equal education opportunity under the state constitution, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California said today.

ACLU Denounces Imperial Police Chief, Renews Call for Independent Commission (03/15/2000)
LOS ANGELES, CA -- We have an imperial chief in Los Angeles. The refusal of Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard Parks to work with the L.A. County District Attorney's office on the Rampart corruption scandal is another reason why it is essential to appoint an independent commission to examine the systemic problems in the LAPD. Parks is trying to grab more authority, rather than be held accountable for his actions and those of his department.

"Hands Off Art;" CA Appeals Court Tells State Liquor Control Agency in Palm Springs Controversy (03/07/2000)
LOS ANGELES, CA--California's Alcohol Beverage Control agency misused its authority when it threatened to revoke the liquor license of an organization displaying an erotic art show, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals here ruled today in a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California.

ACLU of Southern California Responds to Appointment of Experts to Investigate LAPD (03/07/2000)
LOS ANGELES--I have great respect for the integrity and good faith of the Police Commission and its president, Gerald Chaleff. We are pleased to see some movement from the Commission on police reform, but this proposal is still no substitute for the creation of a truly independent panel.

ACLU Calls for Independent Commission to Investigate Corruption Scandal Rocking LAPD (03/01/2000)
LOS ANGELES, CA -- It's time for the mayor to wake up. This city and its police department need an independent commission - and we need it now. Relying on the police department to ferret out all of the underlying problems is like having a cancer patient operate on himself.

ACLU Challenges California Criminal Law That Chills Citizen Complaints Against Police (02/29/2000)
LOS ANGELES, CA -- Acting on behalf of an African-American bicyclist who was physically assaulted by San Bernardino police officers, the American Civil Liberties Union affiliates in California today filed a federal lawsuit saying the man's free speech rights were violated when he attempted to file a citizen complaint about the incident.

ACLU Calls on Los Angeles To Fund Review of Scandal-Plagued Police Department (02/15/2000)
LOS ANGELES -- Saying that a vote to increase resources to an existing commission is insufficient, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today called on Mayor Riordan to appoint an independent, blue-ribbon civilian commission to thoroughly review the operations and policies of the LAPD in the wake of the growing scandal rocking the department.

ACLU Suit Forces National Security Agency to Revisit Discriminatory Policy (02/04/2000)
The ACLU filed the action, Edward Doe v. National Security Agency (CV00-45 RT), last Thursday on behalf of a high school senior of Taiwanese descent with a straight-A grade point average at Riverside Poly High School, who applied to the NSA's Undergraduate Training Program in November 1999. The program provides full college tuition and other benefits for students who commit to working for the NSA after college graduation. 

Ruling Bars Indefinite Immigrant Detention (01/29/2000)
LOS ANGELES, CA -- Another federal judge has ruled that the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) cannot indefinitely hold immigrants who have been ordered deported for crimes but whose native countries refuse to accept them, the Associated Press reported today.

ACLU Says LAPD Unit Used Deportation Threat to Retaliate Against Immigrant Whistle Blower (01/25/2000)
LOS ANGELES -- Clear Los Angeles Police Department policy, adopted over two decades ago, was flagrantly violated by Rampart CRASH officers when they arrested former gang member Alex Sanchez on an Immigration and Naturalization Service warrant. 

ACLU Condemns Judge's Gag Order on Televising Trial of Sara Jane Olson (01/11/2000)
Media organizations, including CNN and Court TV, along with Olson's defense team, had requested that the trial, scheduled to begin in February, be televised. But Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James M. Ideman denied the request, saying, according to news accounts, "I believe, along with most of my colleagues, that televising trials can be a bad thing. I'm ag'in it. I admit my bias." 

School Officials Sued For Warehousing Second, Third Graders in Auditorium (01/11/2000)
According to a class action lawsuit filed today on behalf of children attending Rosemont Avenue Elementary School here, school administrators quartered five separate classes of approximately 100 second- and third-grade students simultaneously in the school auditorium without sound barriers, floor-to-ceiling visual barriers or adequate space for learning and safety. 

Police and Community React to San Jose Traffic Stop Data (12/18/1999)
SAN JOSE, CA - The San Jose Mercury News reported today that local police stop black and Latino drivers at far higher rates than whites and Asian-Americans, according to a long-awaited report on racial profiling released by the police department Friday.

ACLU Condemns School Board for Blocking Gay-Straight Club at a Southern California High School (12/08/1999)
LOS ANGELES -- The ACLU of Southern California today condemned the Board of Education of the Orange Unified School District for refusing to allow the creation of a Gay-Straight Alliance Club at El Modena High School.

ACLU Action Prompts School Board to Abandon Posting of Ten Commandments (11/24/1999)
LOS ANGELES--The ACLU of Southern California claimed victory today after the Val Verde Unified School District dropped plans to post copies of the Ten Commandments on the walls of school offices.

ACLU Condemns Local School District's Decision to Post 10 Commandments in School Offices (11/11/1999)
LOS ANGELES -- The decision this week by the Val Verde school board to ignore the U.S. Constitution and post copies of the Ten Commandments on school house walls is deeply troubling.

ACLU Promises Legal Action if CA School Denies Students The Right to Form Gay-Straight Alliance Club (11/11/1999)
LOS ANGELES, CA -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today announced it would pursue legal action against the Board of Education of the Orange Unified School District if it refuses to allow a Gay-Straight Alliance Club at El Modena High School.

ACLU Applauds Los Angeles City Council for Opposing Youth Crime Measure (11/10/1999)
LOS ANGELES -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California applauds the Los Angeles City Council for today's nine-to-one vote in opposition to the Gang Violence and Juvenile Crime Prevention Initiative (Proposition 21) that will appear on the March 2000 ballot.

Federal Appeals Court Says Police Interrogation Tactics Violated "Miranda" Rights (11/08/1999)
LOS ANGELES -- In a ringing affirmation of the decades-old "right to remain silent" during police interrogations, a federal appeals court today ruled that the Los Angeles and Santa Monica Police Departments had unconstitutionally authorized police officers to interrogate suspects even after they invoked their rights.

ACLU Applauds LA County Board for Urging Law Enforcement To Monitor Race-Based Traffic Stops (11/02/1999)
LOS ANGELES -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California applauds the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for adopting the Burke-Yaroslavsky motion that calls on the Sheriff and the Office of Public Safety to report the cost and feasibility of tracking the race of motorists stopped for traffic infractions.

Settlement of CA Lawsuit Brings Equality, Victory for Girls' and Women's Sports, ACLU Says (10/27/1999)
LOS ANGELES -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today announced the settlement of a highly publicized lawsuit that exposed the institutional inequities facing girls' sports in Los Angeles and the lack of access that women have to local municipal recreation programs.

ACLU Calls on Los Angeles Police Commission to Require LAPD to Collect Traffic Stop Statistics (10/20/1999)
LOS ANGELES -- In a letter to the Los Angeles Police Commission, the American Civil Liberties Union today urged the panel to require the Los Angeles Police Department to collect traffic stop statistics, including the race and ethnicity of the driver.

ACLU Calls on Los Angeles Police Commission to Require LAPD to Collect Traffic Stop Statistics (10/20/1999)
LOS ANGELES -- In a letter to the Los Angeles Police Commission, the American Civil Liberties Union today urged the panel to require the Los Angeles Police Department to collect traffic stop statistics, including the race and ethnicity of the driver.

ACLU Overturns Law and Protects CA Citizens from Being Sued by Police (10/20/1999)
LOS ANGELES -- In a victory for free speech, the American Civil Liberties Union today overturned a state law allowing police to sue individuals who lodge complaints against them.

ACLU of Southern California Calls for Special Prosecutor to Investigate Police Corruption Scandal (09/23/1999)
LOS ANGELES -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today called on Los Angeles County District Attorney Gil Garcetti to name a special prosecutor to investigate and prosecute those involved in unlawful activities at LAPD's Rampart Division.

ACLU of Southern California Responds to Police Corruption Probe (09/17/1999)
LOS ANGELES -- The uncovering of a pattern of deception, perjury and evidence-planting by officers of the Los Angeles Police Department is shocking, but sadly not surprising. In the same manner in which the videotaped beating of Rodney King shed light on police brutality, this investigation is certain to illuminate a terrible, but not so secret fact: that the LAPD cannot be trusted to investigate itself.

California Principal Sends Back Religious Text Books (09/16/1999)
BELRIDGE, CA -- Bowing to legal pressure from the American Civil Liberties Union, a public elementary school in California has decided not to use Christian textbooks that describe other religions as cults and say God helped Columbus discover America, the Associated Press reported today.

Court Settlement Hails End to California's Anti-Immigrant Law Prop. 187 (09/13/1999)
LOS ANGELES -- A U.S. District Court Judge today approved a mediated settlement of an American Civil Liberties Union challenge to a state anti-immigrant law, confirming that no children in California can be deprived of an education or stripped of healthcare due to their place of birth.

Judge Rejects Efforts to Halt Civil Rights Suit of Man Imprisoned for 27 Years (09/13/1999)
LOS ANGELES -- A California judge today agreed to permit former Black Panther party leader Elmer "Geronimo" Pratt to proceed with his civil rights lawsuit against federal and local law enforcement officials for conspiring to convict him of a 1968 murder.

ACLU Announces Settlement of Lawsuit Against Healthcare Providers Who Discriminated Against Lesbian Patient (08/31/1999)
LOS ANGELES -- The ACLU of Southern California announced a settlement today in its sexual orientation discrimination lawsuit against a health care provider and one of its physicians who refused to treat a lesbian woman.

ACLU of Southern California Sues School District Over Use of Religious Textbooks in Public School (08/24/1999)
LOS ANGELES -- Citing violations of religious liberty, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today filed a legal challenge to a Kern County school district's use of textbooks filled with biblical passages and prayers and a banner displaying the text of a Psalm.

CA's Anti-Immigrant Proposition 187 is Voided, Ending State's Five-Year Battle with ACLU, Rights Groups (07/29/1999)
LOS ANGELES -- A court-approved mediation today ended years of legal and political debate over Proposition 187, a controversial ballot measure that sought to limit services to illegal immigrants.

In Class-Action Lawsuit, ACLU Says CA Students Are Denied Equal Access to Advanced Placement Courses (07/27/1999)
LOS ANGELES -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today filed a civil rights class-action lawsuit in State Superior Court on behalf of public high school students who are being denied access to advanced placement courses.

ACLU Files Suit Against Healthcare Providers Who Discriminated Against Lesbian Patient (05/12/1999)
In June of 1998, having just received her health benefits from her new employer, Michelle Dupont was seen for an initial appointment with Dr. Ronald Axtell, who was to be her primary care physician. During the course of the appointment, Dr. Axtell asked Ms. Dupont what type of birth control she used, and she replied that she did not use birth control because she is a lesbian. 

Debate Grows Over Surveillance Cameras on LA Streets (04/13/1999)
HUNTINGTON PARK, CA -- City officials in Southern California are seeking to install surveillance cameras along popular streets even though it might infringe on citizens' constitutional right to privacy, the Los Angeles Times reported today.

HIV-Positive Inmates In California To Receive $1-Million Worth Of Life Saving Drugs (02/22/1999)
LOS ANGELES, CA -- The California Office of AIDS has promised to revise its existing jail policy so that all HIV-positive inmates, regardless of what charges are pending against them, will have access to life saving HIV medications, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California announced today.

ACLU Says Author's Life Endangered by Ban on Medical Marijuana (02/18/1999)
The author, Peter McWilliams, has worsened dramatically since the government prohibited his use of the drug. "This is precisely the reason that the people of California -- like those in 5 other western states -- enacted a law legalizing the medical use of marijuana," said ACLU attorney Taylor Flynn.