News & Commentary

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - A lawsuit filed in federal district court today charges that the city of Moreno Valley and its police force, acting in conjunction with the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, conducted a series of racially-targeted, warrantless raids on barbershops owned and patronized by African Americans under the false pretext that the searches were solely part of a health and code inspection.

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As a parting shot against women's health and despite public objections, including the opposition of more than 75,000 ACLU members, the Bush Administration pushed through the Health Care Denial Rule, which undermines the ability of American women to obtain basic reproductive health care, including birth control and information about abortion.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – A team of legal organizations announced today that it is suing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in federal district court for detaining immigrants in egregious, unsanitary conditions in a downtown Los Angeles facility without soap, drinking water, toothpaste, toothbrushes, sanitary napkins, changes of clothing or showers. The lawsuit – filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, the National Immigration Law Center, and the law firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky and Walker LLP – also charges that the unsanitary conditions have led ICE to deprive immigrants of due-process rights such as access to mail or attorneys while in detention.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The ACLU of Southern California supports the announcement today by Pasadena Police Chief Bernard Melekian that the county's Office of Independent Review will conduct an independent investigation into the fatal shooting of Leroy Barnes Jr. during a Feb. 19 traffic stop. The announcement accompanied the Pasadena Police Department's briefing to the community on the department's own investigation into the Barnes shooting, which concluded that the officers were justified in their actions.

https://www.aclusocal.org/images/view/193?size=lgYou have the right to demonstrate and protest. This handy guide will walk you through basics of what you can and cannot do, and provide tips on what actions to take if stopped or arrested by law enforcement. We've also included advice for demonstrating on school grounds. Download

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The ACLU of Southern California is troubled by the Orange County District Attorney’s recent determination not to criminally charge an Anaheim police officer who tragically shot and killed Julian Alexander, an innocent 20-year-old resident, during a pursuit.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The ACLU of Southern California commends the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for approving a study by the Vera Institute of Justice on how to effectively reduce the county's overcrowded and inefficient jail system while saving taxpayers millions of dollars. Preliminary work on the new study will get under way this week.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The ACLU of Southern California filed a lawsuit today against the city of Santa Barbara for intentionally violating the constitutional rights of disabled homeless people by criminalizing them through enforcement of its 'anti-sleeping ordinance,' while giving them no reasonable alternative to sleeping on the streets. The lawsuit - on behalf of certain homeless residents --was filed in federal district court in Los Angeles.