News & Commentary

PASADENA - In a victory for civil liberties, the Pasadena City Council today passed a resolution condemning the unconstitutional aspects of the USA-PATRIOT Act. By passing the resolution, the City of Pasadena, joins over 332 cities, counties and even states throughout the nation that have passed similar resolutions.

LOS ANGELES - In a ruling today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a previous federal district court decision that the presence of a cross located on the federal Mojave Desert Preserve is a religious symbol and violates the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

LOS ANGELES - In a stinging rebuke to the California Department of Corrections today, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the release of Billy Soza Warsoldier, a Cahuilla Native American who had refused to cut his hair short on religious grounds, from the Adelanto Community Correctional Facility in Adelanto, California. The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, together with the law firm of Bingham McCutchen, had filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Mr. Warsoldier after learning that he was being penalized for practicing his religion, a central tenet of which is the prohibition of cutting his hair except upon the death of a loved one. Mr. Warsoldier was denied visitation rights and other privileges for refusing to comply with the Department of Corrections' grooming policy, which stipulates that male inmates must keep their hair no longer than three inches.

LOS ANGELES - As hundreds of same-sex couples in Massachusetts become the first in the country to obtain marriage licenses pursuant to a ruling by a state supreme court, lesbian and gay couples in California fervently hope that the legislature and courts will move quickly to end marriage discrimination in California as well.

LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and Being Alive Los Angeles, an organization of, by and for people living with HIV and AIDS, today sent a stern letter to the Los Angeles Department of Public Health Services about the methods used to obtain the private medical records of adult industry actors who had been provided with treatment by the Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation (AIM).

Today's vote on AB 1967 marks a significant step towards marriage equality for all Californians. Assemblymember Mark Leno's bill would simply ensure that same-sex couples are treated fairly and equally under the eyes of the law when it comes to marriage.

Statement of Ramona Ripston, ACLU of Southern California Executive Director

LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California filed a federal lawsuit today seeking the release of a non-citizen who is being held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody indefinitely after having served his sentence.

Schools should be safe places to learn for all students, and all students and parents have the right to expect that schools are places that clearly and unequivocally prohibit harassment and discrimination of all kinds.