Fred Okrand, Legal Director Emeritus of the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, passed away Monday night after a long illness.

Almost all of Fred's legal career was devoted to the ACLU. While practicing law in the private sector, he served as a volunteer attorney for the affiliate for 21 years. In 1972 he was appointed Legal Director, a position he held until his retirement in 1984. Fred continued as Legal Director Emeritus.

A graduate of UCLA in 1937, Fred received his law degree from USC in 1940. He was counsel for more than 500 reported civil liberties cases. He is best remembered, however, for his groundbreaking ? and highly courageous ? challenge to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.

Throughout his illness, Fred never stopped working. He was co-counsel on a class action lawsuit, Mochizuki et al v. U.S., on behalf of 2,264 persons of Japanese ancestry who were uprooted from their homes throughout Latin America and forcibly brought to and imprisoned in INS "enemy alien" internment camps in this country. The kidnapings were part of a U.S. government scheme during World War II to use Japanese Latin Americans ? most of whom had never been to Japan ? in civilian prisoner exchanges. Just recently, Fred spoke at a forum on "Civil Liberties and the Need for National Security: What Lessons Can We Learn from the Japanese American Experiences During World War II?"

Honored frequently for his work, Fred was the 1992 Constitutional Rights Foundation/ Los Angeles County Bar Association Lawyer of the Year, the holder of the 1993 "Share the Dream" (Justice) Award of the Japanese American Citizens League, recipient of the Los Angeles Harvard Club's 1979 John Harvard Community Service Award, and the subject of the UCLA oral history project, "Forty Years Defending the Constitution." The ACLU presented Fred with its Lifetime Achievement Award at last year's Law Luncheon; his wife, Mimi, accepted the award to a standing ovation.

Two years ago, Foundation Board member Alan Sieroty established a staff attorney position named in honor of Fred and his long-time partner and fellow-ACLU attorney, Al Wirin.

"I feel so privileged to have worked with Fred. He was always inspiring as well as always being upbeat. He was a fierce advocate who never sought personal glory. Fred was a legal giant. He argued at least four cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, and was the force behind some of the most significant constitutional challenges in our nation. He will be sorely missed," said Ramona Ripston, executive director of the ACLU of Southern California.

Fred is survived by his wife, Mimi, and their two sons, Dean and Marc. The family has arranged for a private cremation, after which Fred's ashes will be scattered on the ocean. The ACLU will plan a memorial service after consultation with his family.

LOS ANGELES ? On International Women's Day, Friday, March 8, 2002 the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California announced the launch of its Latina Rights Project. The Project, a pilot initiative of the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, will utilize model litigation, bilingual/bicultural public education and public policy advocacy to address priority civil rights issues facing Latina women and girls in Southern California.

Working in collaboration with community-based advocates and a multi-disciplinary Advisory Board, the Project will serve as a bridge among diverse civil rights advocacy communities, addressing barriers to access and opportunity, while promoting Latina's self-empowerment.

"Latinas represent one of the fastest growing demographic groups throughout the state," said Rocio Cordoba, Staff Attorney with the ACLU/SC and Director of the Latina Rights Project. "Unfortunately while the Latina population continues to grow and expand, their access to basic services and equal opportunities in the areas of health and education continues to dwindle. The Latina Rights Project will work to address some of the alarming disparities that exist in the Latina community."

According to U.S. Census estimates, Latina/os represent 32.4% of California's population, Latinas make up 25% of the state's female population. While representing a major constituency in the state, Latinas face some of the most daunting problems in the areas of health and education. For example, 61% of California Latinas aged 25-44 have no high school diploma, 24% graduated from high school and only 15% have gone on to post-secondary education.

"What we find is that there are a number of pressures that contribute to some of these unfortunate statistics," said Mireya Gutierrez, project Advisory Board member and Director of National Latina Alliance, a grasssroots organization that seeks to empower Latinas through education and policy analysis. "Often times, these girls have to act as surrogate mothers, taking care of younger sisters and brothers because their parents have to work long hours in order to make ends meet. This leaves little opportunity to participate in after-school programs or extra curricular activities."

In the area of health care, Latinas make up the majority of uninsured women throughout California at 33%, nationally the number climbs to 42%. The maternal mortality rate among Latinas in the United States is 1.7 times the rate for white women.

"Working with the Latino/a community, we see that often times women are not aware of the resources that are available to them," said Kristina Moreno, Policy Director for Latino Health Care of Los Angeles. "Whether it be in the area of prenatal care, reproductive health or access to basic health services there is a lack of public education and the community suffers because of that. This project will work to inform Latinas of their basic health care and reproductive rights."

"The Latina Rights Project is in the great tradition of the ACLU," said Ramona Ripston, executive director of the ACLU/SC. "We have always fought to make sure that everyone's civil rights and civil liberties are respected and this will be an extension of that unchanging goal."

LOS ANGELES ? Gary Williams, ACLU of Southern California board member and professor at Loyola Law School was elected president of the ACLU of Southern California's Board of Directors on January 22, 2002. A civil rights and civil liberties litigation professor, Williams began his involvement with the ACLU/SC in 1979 as a Staff Attorney. Williams has served as vice president of the ACLU/SC since 1997 and is also a sitting member of the ACLU's national board of directors.

"Gary has been with us since 1979," said Ramona Ripston, Executive Director of the ACLU/SC, "first as a Staff Attorney, then as Assistant Legal Director, he has been a lifelong advocate for civil rights and equal justice under law and we are proud to have him as our president."

Williams lent his expertise to the ACLU's "Driving While Black" (DWB) litigation that focused on racial profiling and was appointed to the state's bipartisan panel on federal judicial appointments by Senator Barbara Boxer. Williams also contributes to ongoing ACLU/SC lawsuits against the state such as the historic class-action suit Williams v. State of California (no relation) case which seeks to improve public education for students throughout California.

"It is an honor to serve as president of the ACLU/SC board of directors," said Williams. "From our involvement in improving public school conditions throughout the state to protecting the right to free speech, the ACLU can be counted on to defend the Constitution for every new generation."

Williams, received his B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and his J.D. from Stanford University. He was Staff Counsel for the Agricultural Labor Relations Board from 1976-79. He joined the ACLU/SC as a Staff Attorney in 1979 and was appointed Assistant Legal Director in 1985, a position he maintained until joining the Loyola Law School faculty in 1987. Williams is also a member of the Board of Directors, and Finance and Personal Committee of the Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic.

The American Civil Liberties Union is the nation's foremost advocate of individual rights and equal justice, and the leading guardian against government interference and abuse. Since 1920, the mission of the ACLU has been to preserve the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Located in downtown Los Angeles, Loyola Law School is California's largest law school. World-renowned architect Frank Gehry designed its campus, one of the most distinctive in the country. Its program and facilities are ranked among the top 25% of American law schools in the latest Princeton Review Gourman Report. Loyola's faculty is nationally known for teaching and scholarship, its graduates for their effective practical training.