May 15, 2014

By Judy Pendleton

As a long-time resident of Visalia – yes, that small town in the heart of California’s Central Valley – district attorney and sheriff elections have never excited me much. These races historically go uncontested, and candidates use the same old “tough on crime” rhetoric in their campaigns. But what does public safety really mean to these candidates? What about corrections spending, racial disparities, and juvenile justice?

For Immediate Release: May 09, 2014
Media Contact: press@aclunc.org, (415) 621-2493
officer pulling someone over
The Drive California Coalition, comprised of a broad range of civil and immigrants’ rights organizations, applauds members of California’s Congressional Delegation for urging U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson to approve the California driver’s license proposed by the legislature in AB 60: “The Safe and Responsible Driver Act.” The license is carefully designed to protect against discrimination and comply with federal law.
May 09, 2014
This Mother’s Day, I want to honor mothers of all ages—the young and old—including myself. As a seventeen year old mother, I know all too well both the joys and struggles of motherhood. When I became pregnant at 14, I knew my life would change dramatically but because of the way teen mothers are stigmatized, I never imagined I could be this happy.
For Immediate Release: May 07, 2014
Media Contact: press@aclunc.org, (415) 621-2493
Michael Scott, Plaintiff
An Alameda County Superior Court Judge today ruled that Secretary of State Debra Bowen illegally stripped tens of thousands of people of their voting rights two years ago, saying people on Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS) and mandatory supervision under California’s Criminal Justice Realignment Act are eligible to vote.
For Immediate Release: May 06, 2014
Media Contact: press@aclunc.org, (415) 621-2493
AB 60 supporters at a rally
Drive California, a statewide coalition composed of a broad range of civil and immigrants’ rights groups including California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPIC), Presente, the ACLU of California, Services, Immigrant Rights, and Education Network (SIREN), and TODEC-Training Occupational Development Educating Communities Center, strongly object to DHS’s refusal to let California move forward with creating a driver’s license that protects immigrant communities from discrimination.
For Immediate Release: May 02, 2014
Media Contact: press@aclunc.org, (415) 621-2493
ACLU of Northern CA
Today the ACLU of California and other civil rights groups sent letters to every county in California urging them to end compliance with immigration detainer requests in the wake of a recent federal court decision holding that the requests are unconstitutional and local law enforcement may be held liable for money damages for complying with them.
May 01, 2014
Exciting news. The White House Big Data Report, Big Data: Seizing Opportunities, Preserving Values, was released today. While it does not address all of the ACLU’s concerns, the report recognizes the importance of moving forward on several legal and policy areas that have been a focus of our work here in California for several years.
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