News & Commentary

We extend our congratulations to Mayor Hahn and Commissioner William Bratton. Everyone who has worked tirelessly over the years on the issue of police reform knows that the department must change and we hold high hopes that William Bratton is the person to make that change a reality. From excessive force to breaking the code of silence, the new Chief will have his work cut out for him. We look forward to rolling up our sleeves and extending a helping hand in reforming the department and giving the City of Los Angeles the police force it deserves.

LOS ANGELES - Today, Californian's right to make private childbearing decisions free of government interference became law as Governor Gray Davis signed a historic bill that is widely supported by a broad coalition of women's groups, heath-care providers and civil rights organizations. The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California's Latina Rights Project was a main supporter of the bill and worked to mobilize community support and awareness by holding a bilingual community forum on access to reproductive health care.

LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, together with the law firm of Ross, Dixon & Bell, today filed a federal civil rights lawsuit challenging the blatantly discriminatory treatment of two Afghan-American, Southern California college students at the hands of AMC Theaters located at 'The Block' in Orange County.

LOS ANGELES - A U.S. District Court has granted the ACLU of Southern California's motion for summary judgement and held that the presence of the Mojave Desert Cross, a religious symbol, on federal land violated the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

LOS ANGELES -- In an open letter, the California affiliates of the ACLU are urging State Attorney General Bill Lockyer to take "immediate steps to ensure that intelligence-gathering practices carried out in this state - whether by state, local or federal law enforcement officers - fully respect Californians' state constitutional right to privacy."

LOS ANGELES - Five sweeping civil rights lawsuits filed across the country today accuse American, Continental, Northwest and United Airlines of blatant discrimination against five men who were ejected from flights based on the prejudices of airline employees and passengers and for reasons wholly unrelated to security.

LOS ANGELES - The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today held that nothing bars victims of LAPD misconduct and community action groups from participating in the historic consent decree negotiated between the city and the U.S. Department of Justice. In reversing the denial of permissive intervention status in the litigation United States v. City of Los Angeles by the district court, the unanimous ruling by the federal appellate court rejected arguments by the United States and City of Los Angeles that community groups and individuals should be denied party status in the case as to "streamline" the litigation. The court noted that excluding community members "should not be accomplished at the risk of marginalizing those...who have some of the strongest interests in the outcome" of the reform process.

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