Proposition 85 is a dangerous and misleading initiative that threatens the health and safety of California's most vulnerable teens and a woman's right to choose.
Help us spread the word to other voters about the dangers of Proposition 85 by joining us on weekend canvasses and daily phonebanking. With just days to go until the Nov. 7 election, voter-to-voter contact is how we will win this fight.

Date

Wednesday, October 25, 2006 - 12:00am

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Two weeks after an intimidating letter went out to Orange County Latinos, California Secretary of State Bruce McPherson urged them to "ignore that letter." "It was unauthorized and inaccurate," McPherson wrote to the 14,000 residents who received the letter.
The ACLU/SC just days before asked McPherson and Orange County election officials to correct the claims that immigrants who voted could face jail time and deportation. The Orange County Board of Supervisors condemned the letter but refused to join McPherson in alerting affected voters.
"We are pleased the secretary of state took this seriously," said ACLU/SC Orange County director Hector Villagra. "Threats to voters undermine our democracy, and those officials entrusted with ensuring fair elections must take strong steps to counter these tactics."
A Santa Ana resident who received the mailer told the Los Angeles Times he disagreed with Orange County leaders' decision. "It needs to come from the person who says, 'You can vote here in this county,' " said Ruben Alvarez.
In a letter to the ACLU/SC, McPherson wrote, "Any attempt to intimidate voters is unacceptable."
McPherson worked with the National Council of La Raza, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials to correct the letter.

Date

Wednesday, October 25, 2006 - 12:00am

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Southern Californians and ACLU members from around the country met in this rainy city last week to protest the president's abuse of power as he signed away Americans' constitutional rights. On Tuesday, President Bush approved the Military Commissions Act, which allows him to indefinitely hold people with charge, take away torture protections, and deny detainees the right to hearings.
"It's historic, and it's horrifying," said ACLU/SC executive director Ramona Ripston. "In the name of fighting terror, the president is defying American values and laws guaranteeing equal justice to all."
Ripston stayed late Tuesday to hear ACLU/SC staff attorney Catherine Lhamon and the next generation of student activists, including Williams v. California plaintiff Alondra Jones (pictured above). As a junior at Balboa High School in San Francisco, Jones faced textbook shortages, class cuts, and a Spanish curriculum that consisted of English-language movies such as "Rush Hour." "I felt then and I still feel now that equal education doesn't start and end with me," she said. "I have younger siblings who are in the schools that were affected by the lawsuits and I couldn't dream of them facing the same struggles.... Because they were younger, and I was older, I was here to fight for them."
Member Derek Chan of Montebello said it was "inspiring to me seeing these younger people advocate for their rights." Click here for a link to the webcast.
"Southern Californians understand the skewed priorities of this administration," Ripston said. "They are rolling back rights when they should be expanding opportunity."
Keston Barker, a member from San Juan Capistrano who works in Long Beach, and his wife, Coleen, knocked on their congressman's door Tuesday, as President Bush signed the Military Commissions Act.
Flying back to Long Beach, Barker saw the ACLU mentioned "six or seven times" on his seatback TV screen. "One person on MSNBC said, 'People will look back and say where were you the day the president signed away our habeas corpus rights and got the right to torture,' " he recalled. "I was in the office of a congressman when he was signing it. At least I can say I was doing something."

Date

Monday, October 23, 2006 - 12:00am

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