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The ACLU of Northern California and Public Justice filed a motion to unseal court records and preserve public access in the class action lawsuit women who were sexually abused at FCI Dublin brought against the federal Bureau of Prisons. The First Amendment protects the right of public access to court records and judicial proceedings. Read More

Last week, over 50 organizations wrote to Congress to warn of the dangers of including broad preemption in the pending federal privacy bill, the American Privacy Rights Act (APRA) Read More

The State of California will be required to strengthen oversight of school districts to prevent systemic discrimination against Black students, children with disabilities, and English learners. Read More

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With graduations behind us, the 2023-2024 academic year has concluded. It started just before the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, and proceeded during Israel’s months-long military response and the ongoing war in Gaza. The year culminated with nationwide student-led protests and demonstrations, which prompted varying and escalating responses by university administrators. Now is a suitable time t... Read More

Welcome to a website operated by the American Civil Liberties Union Northern California and the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation Northern California (collectively, ACLU Northern California). Each such website is referred to as an ACLU of Northern California "Site." The Sites include the Union’s website at www.aclunc.org, which may host Foundation content, and any other ACLU of Northern... Read More

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson opens the door for cities to cite and arrest people simply for being homeless. However, San Francisco has policies and an ordinance requiring the city to offer shelter before clearing encampments. Our lawsuit challenging San Francisco's costly and ineffective response to homelessness will proceed. Read More

Dozens of mentally ill people have died in California jails when they should have been in state hospitals receiving treatment. An ACLU lawsuit demands answers. Read More

In recent decades, surveillance has increased exponentially. It has not made us safer. On the contrary, the explosion in AI means that surveillance systems will become more powerful and more dangerous every year. This guide makes the case for non-surveillance interventions, giving policymakers the resources they need to meet this moment. Read More

John Do is the ACLU of Northern California’s lead counsel for a lawsuit challenging the city’s costly and ineffective practice of destroying unhoused individuals’ belongings, and citing, arresting, and moving them without offering shelter. For Do, who grew up poor in subsidized public housing, ending homelessness is personal. “I’ve always seen homelessness as a direct result of decades of poor pol... Read More