Blog
We can be pretty sure that each new day will bring two things: new threats to our civil liberties, and new stories of people standing up for their rights and winning. Behind every court ruling is a person. Behind every landmark law is a movement. Read the stories and hear the voices that ground our work.
Federal Court Calls Trump’s Threats to Defund Sanctuary Cities Unconstitutional
Lawyers for Immigrants: Why California Must Lead the Way
Did you know that California pioneered the public defender system in the early 1900s? It's time for our state to step up again.
Fighting Censorship: Victories in 1957 & 2017 #ACLUTimeMachine
The ACLU has been fighting against censorship for nearly a century. April is National Poetry Month, so we’ve been thinking about a free speech case from sixty years ago that involved a small but powerful book of poetry.
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#123TCP – The Toxic Chemical in California's Tap Water
No one should have to turn on their tap and wonder if the water is safe to drink. But thousands of homes across the state are connected to water sources contaminated with a cancer-causing chemical called 1,2,3-TCP.
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A Dangerous Trend: Immigration Arrests at State Courthouses Are on the Rise
One disturbing new trend is the increase in immigration arrests at state courthouses across the country. Beyond posing public safety dangers, these arrests also threaten our constitutional rights.
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Freedom Shouldn't Depend on Your Bank Account Balance
California incarcerates thousands of people while they await their court dates - simply because they can’t afford to post bail. Meanwhile, wealthy people can easily buy their freedom.
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California Could Soon Disentangle Itself from Trump's Mass Deportations
Two weeks ago, a mother of two was driving to church when local police pulled her over. The officer issued a fix-it ticket and within 30 minutes, immigration officers were at her door to deport her. She is now living in hiding.
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"My Voice Matters." When Their Principal Tried to Remove #BlackLivesMatter from the Yearbook, These Teens Spoke Up.
Students on yearbook staff wrote an article about Black Lives Matter. When their principal rejected it, they knew it was time to speak up for their rights. Students have a right to free speech and expression at school. This includes political speech, cultural expression, and speech that a school district may preemptively feel is controversial.
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A Border Agent Took My Sister and Me Into a Closet and Sexually Assaulted Us
We fled Guatemala looking for a safer and more peaceful life. What happened to us after crossing the border changed our lives.
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Un oficial de inmigración nos metió a mi hermana y a mí en un armario y nos agredió sexualmente
Nos fuimos de Guatemala buscando una vida pacífica. Lo que paso después que cruzamos la frontera nos cambió la vida.
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California Values Act: It’s About More than Dollars and Cents
Fresno City Council Member Steve Brandau wants Fresno to turn its back on immigrants, inclusion, and human dignity.
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In California, We the People Can Protect Our Values and Each Other
While California already has many great laws in place, there's much work to do for civil rights and civil liberties – especially now as the Trump Administration begins its attack on the most vulnerable among us.
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