News & Commentary

For 100 years, the ACLU of Southern California has fought to defend and advance civil liberties in the southland. Curated in partnership with the Los Angeles Review of Books, our 2023 Reading Guide is a reflection of our region’s rich literary roots, featuring contemporary California authors whose works inform our mission and challenge us to realize a more just and equitable future.

Meet Californians who fought to make California a more just place.

The 2022 midterm elections brought a lot of wins for Southern Californians, including housing rights and sheriff accountability.

After facing gender, pregnancy, and breast/chestfeeding discrimination working at the Port of L.A., Kaiaunna is fighting for her rights.

While SCOTUS dealt a devastating step back, we know that Roe was never enough — even in California.

My name is Adrian, and I’m a proud transgender man.  

After decades of advocacy by community and grassroots organizations, California is making significant strides toward criminal and juvenile justice. This past year, Los Angeles County’s new district attorney began working to end cash bail for misdemeanors, enact new sentencing policies, and stop the transfer of children to adult court. Meanwhile, a 2020 state law and a budget directive from the governor’s office have resulted in plans to close all three of California’s juvenile prisons by 2023.  

OCFA is one of the first fire departments in the country to put a lactation room in all 77 of its fire stations.

I never expected to get an abortion. But I knew I could tell my mother. I grew up in New York and abortion was still illegal when I was born. One of my earliest memories is being in the car with my mother when she turned to me and told me that if I ever needed an abortion, I should let her know