Issue Areas

CRIMINAL JUSTICE
All people are guaranteed equal access to justice. We strive to ensure that the scales of justice are fairly balanced and that basic civil liberties are enjoyed by all, regardless of race, ethnicity, or economics.

See Also: Death Penalty, Police Practices

GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE
Weakening privacy protections, combined with new surveillance-enabling technologies, have moved us closer to a surveillance society. We strive to ensure that the government does not violate our privacy unless it has evidence of wrongdoing. 

FREEDOM OF PRESS AND SPEECH
Speech, regardless of its popularity, is protected by the First Amendment and guaranteed to all Americans. We work to guard individuals from attempts by the government or others to erode this fundamental right.

LGBT
Every individual deserves even-handed treatment by government and protection from discrimination in public and private life. We work to guarantee these equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

PRIVACY
As the information revolution progresses, so do the difficulties in protecting our right to privacy. We work to ensure that individuals, not governments or corporations, determine how and when others gain access to our personal information.

RACIAL JUSTICE
Racial bias in the criminal justice system and educational inequalities remain as obstacles to a just society. Advancing the cause of civil rights for communities of color continues to be a core part of our efforts.

RELIGION
The right to practice religion, or no religion at all, and the separation of church and state are among our most fundamental freedoms. We work to protect religious liberty and keep the government out of religion.

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
The California Constitution explicitly protects reproductive privacy, providing safety for women who make the difficult choice to end a pregnancy. We protect and advance women's rights to make informed personal decisions about childbearing.

TECHNOLOGY
In the rush to promote the advantages of new technologies, government and businesses often overlook privacy and free speech implications. As technology advances, we work to ensure that civil liberties are not left behind.

YOUTH
We protect the rights of young people through litigation, legislation, and the Friedman Youth Project—a groundbreaking program that empowers and trains the next generation of activists.