Economic Justice

The ACLU works to defend economically disadvantaged people and fights income-based discrimination in the criminal justice and public benefits systems, and in housing and employment. Economic justice is a civil right.

Victory: California Chief Justice ends "bail for trial... Read more

Fighting for homeless rights in Tulare. Read more

Homeless people's stuff being destroyed in Fresno

Class action settlement for hundreds of Fresno's homeless... Read more

Would you pay a hefty fee to communicate with neighbors? Read more

News

ACLU of California activists at the State Capitol - April 2017

ACLU Rallies for Freedom and Justice for All at State Capitol

April 3, 2017

File Under :

Criminal Justice and Drug Policy, Economic Justice, Immigrants' Rights

The ACLU of California held its annual rally and lobby day to promote civil liberties legislation. Several policymakers, advocates, affected community members, and 400 ACLU members and supporters from throughout the state joined the organization. Read more

News

Broad Coalition Supports Effort to Reform California’s Unfair and Costly Money Bail System

March 27, 2017

File Under :

Criminal Justice and Drug Policy, Economic Justice, Racial Justice

A broad coalition applauded lawmakers' unveiling of two bills that, if passed, would reform California's money bail system. Thousands of Californians are detained pretrial simply because they can't afford to post bail. Read more

News

ACLU Statement on California Chief Justice’s State of the Judiciary

March 27, 2017

File Under :

Criminal Justice and Drug Policy, Economic Justice, Immigrants' Rights

ACLU of California Center for Advocacy and Policy statement i n response to CA Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye's State of the Judiciary Address. Read more

News

Bill to Address Secret and Unregulated Use of Jailhouse Informants Passes Out of Committee

March 21, 2017

File Under :

Criminal Justice and Drug Policy, Economic Justice, Racial Justice

Today, a bill to close a significant loophole in existing law regarding jailhouse informants passed unanimously out of the Assembly Public Safety Committee. Assembly Bill 359, by Assemblymember Reginald Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), comes in the... Read more

Blog

In California, We the People Can Protect Our Values and Each Other

March 16, 2017

File Under :

Criminal Justice and Drug Policy, Economic Justice, Immigrants' Rights, LGBT Equality

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. Read more »

Blog

A storefront in California's Central Valley sells clean drinking water

From Flint to Standing Rock to California’s Salinas Valley, Water is a Human Right

January 25, 2017

File Under :

Economic Justice, Racial Justice

Everyone has a right to safe, clean, affordable drinking water. And the news this week means we’re going to have to shout it from the rooftops. Water is life. Water is a human right. One of Donald Trump’s first actions as president was to issue an... Read more »

News

ACLU on Gov.’s Budget Proposal: Off to Good Start to Protect California’s Most Vulnerable

January 10, 2017

File Under :

Criminal Justice and Drug Policy, Economic Justice, Immigrants' Rights

In response to Gov. Jerry Brown’s unveiling of his proposed 2017-18 budget, the ACLU of California’s Center for Advocacy and Policy issued the following statement on behalf of its Center Director, Natasha Minsker. Read more

News

Richmond City Council Meeting Passes Fair Housing Ordinance for Formerly Incarcerated People

Richmond City Council Adopts Fair Chance Housing Ordinance

December 21, 2016

File Under :

Criminal Justice and Drug Policy, Economic Justice, Racial Justice

The Richmond City Council last night voted to approve a “Fair Chance Access to Affordable Housing” ordinance to protect the rights of people who are re-entering society and find themselves excluded from housing opportunities because of their... Read more

Blog

A meeting on a residential street in Richmond

VICTORY! Richmond, CA Passes New Affordable Housing Law for Formerly Incarcerated People

December 20, 2016

File Under :

Criminal Justice and Drug Policy, Economic Justice, Racial Justice

Finding affordable housing is tough. Finding affordable housing when you’re returning home after serving time is nearly impossible. Last night, the Richmond City Council passed a historic law to protect the rights of people who are re-entering... Read more »

Blog

Workers throw homeless people's property into a Caltrans truck

Client Stories: Illegal Caltrans Sweeps of Homeless Encampments

December 13, 2016

File Under :

Criminal Justice and Drug Policy, Economic Justice

Sometimes the trucks arrive early. Sometimes they come with no notice at all. Sometimes, while workers from the California Department of Transportation make their way down the row of tents—seizing property and cherished belongings—people have mere... Read more »