Press Releases

ACLU Sues L.A. Sheriff's Department to Obtain Use-of-Force Records

LOS ANGELES — On January 1, a new law went into effect giving Californians more access to law enforcement officer records than they had in 40 years. The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California, one of the key sponsors of the law, immediately sent out requests to nearly 400
Issue Areas: Police Practices

Fight to Uphold the California Values Act in Local Cities Heads to Court

SANTA ANA — On Wednesday, the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California, the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project, the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, and the law firm Latham & Watkins will be in court to appeal a ruling that allowed the City of Huntington Beach to ignore
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights

L.A. Man Sues City After Car Towed and Sold Over Two Parking Tickets

LOS ANGELES — A person experiencing homelessness, Joseph Safuto, has sued the City of Los Angeles, challenging the city's practice of towing vehicles as a mechanism for collecting debt — in this case two unpaid parking tickets that resulted in a lapsed registration.
Issue Areas: Economic Justice

Governor Newsom Signs Groundbreaking Abortion Access Bill

SACRAMENTO — Today, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 24 (Leyva), groundbreaking legislation that will require student health centers at all 34 California public universities to offer medication abortion. The bill, also known as the College Student Right to Access Act, is the first of its

Advocates Celebrate Governor Newsom's Signature on SB 136, Dismantling a Cruel, Ineffective Sentence Enhancement

​​​​​​​SACRAMENTO — Today, the Repeal Ineffective Sentence Enhancements (RISE) Coalition celebrated Governor Gavin Newsom's signature on SB 136: The RISE Act. The legislation, authored by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), dismantles a cruel, expensive, and ineffective sentence enhancement that

California to Allow Voters to Register to Vote at Every Polling Site on Election Day

SACRAMENTO — Today, California Governor Newsom signed SB 72, legislation introduced by State Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D-Santa Ana) to allow all eligible Californians to register to vote and cast a ballot at all polling sites on Election Day. California now joins 13 other states and the District of

California Governor Signs Landmark Bill Halting Facial Recognition on Police Body Cams

SACRAMENTO — Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed landmark legislation making California the largest state in the country to block law enforcement agencies from using facial recognition and other biometric tracking technology in connection with officer body cameras.