News & Commentary

ACLU/SC client Osfel Andrade wasn’t looking for attention when he blew the whistle on years of exploitation and discrimination of largely immigrant workers by his employer. In fact, attention is something Andrade was hoping to avoid. 

Tehachapi Teenager’s Suicide Underscores Urgent Need for Schools to Uphold Legal Obligations to Protect LGBTQ Students from Harassment

The ACLU of Southern California joined advocates and community members at a rally at the Governor’s downtown Los Angeles office today urging California legislators to pass a fair and humane budget that includes crucial revenue solutions. On the constitutional deadline to pass the state budget, ACLU/SC Executive Director Hector Villagra called on legislators to “stand strong and support Californians by voting for a budget with revenue solutions that respect human life and dignity.” One important revenue solution includes passing safe and sensible sentencing reforms that save California money.

Today -- June 14 -- is Flag Day.  The flag is a powerful symbol to many people, both in and of itself and how it's displayed.

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LOS ANGELES – The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California (ACLU/SC) announced today that its deputy executive director James Gilliam will be honored by KCET and Union Bank as part of an inaugural class of  ‘Local Heroes’ in celebration of LGBT Pride month.  The Local Heroes Awards recognize the recipients’ leadership and contributions in shaping the neighborhoods in which they work and live and will be presented Thursday, June 9, 2011 at KCET in Los Angeles. 

Los Angeles — The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California announced that a federal court in Los Angeles ordered the Department of Homeland Security to find legal representation – whether paid or pro bono – for a man suffering from a serious mental illness held in immigration detention.  The court’s order, which was unsealed today, defined the procedures that the government must follow to protect the rights of immigrants with severe mental disabilities held in detention. 

Keeping in the spirit of celebrating LGBT Pride month, over the weekend I watched a great documentary called Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride, and then attended an ACLU/SC sponsored production of the brilliant one-woman play, "No Word In Guyanese For Me."