Press Releases

VICTORY! US Supreme Court invalidates patents on BRCA1 and BRCA2

Should companies be able to patent human genes? Today, the Supreme Court answered that profound question with a resounding NO.

Press Release: Bill supporting transgender students goes to the senate floor

SACRAMENTO—Today, the California Senate Education Committee passed AB 1266 (Ammiano), the School Success and Opportunity Act, a bill that provides crucial support for transgender students, by a vote of 5-2.
Issue Areas: LGBTQ Rights

Press Release: Clovis parents ask school district to reject inadequate sex ed proposal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 12, 2013 Parents are asking the Clovis Unified School District to reject a proposed high school sex education curriculum, saying that it is inadequate and still contains dangerous misinformation about sexual health. The school board is scheduled to vote this evening on whether to adopt or reject the proposed curriculum.

ACLU challenges NSA's Patriot Act phone surveillance

In the wake of the past week's revelations about the NSA's unprecedented mass surveillance of phone calls, today the ACLU filed a lawsuit charging that the program violates Americans' constitutional rights of free speech, association, and privacy.

Press Release: ACLU/SC commends LA DA Jackie Lacey for new policies on disclosure of exculpatory evidence

LOS ANGELES – The ACLU of Southern California commends LA District Attorney Jackie Lacey for adopting new policies that address the way that the DA’s office maintains and discloses evidence of misconduct by police officers and other governmental employees. The new policies will ensure that such evidence is disclosed to criminal defendants, as required by federal and state law.

ACLU calls for end to program, disclosure of program’s scope, congressional investigation

NEW YORK – Using the Patriot Act, the U.S. government has been secretly tracking the calls of every Verizon Business Network Services customer – whom they talked to, from where, and for how long – for the past 41 days, according to a report published by The Guardian.

Press Release: ACLU Challenges Immigration Enforcement Agencies’ Practices of Tearing Families Apart Through Coercion

LOS ANGELES — Using misinformation, deception, and coercion, Border Patrol and ICE officers have pressured hundreds, if not thousands, of Mexican nationals with deep roots here in the United States into forfeiting their right to a fair hearing and a chance to live here lawfully, alleges the ACLU in a lawsuit filed today in federal court in Los Angeles.

The War on Marijuana in Black and White: Billions of Dollars Wasted on Racially Biased Arrests

NEW YORK – Black people are 3.7 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people despite comparable usage rates, according to a report released today by the American Civil Liberties Union. The report also found that marijuana arrests now make up nearly half of all drug arrests, with police making over 7 million marijuana possession arrests between 2001 and 2010.

ACLU lawsuit challenges immigration enforcement agencies’ practices of tearing families apart

SAN DIEGO — Using misinformation, deception, and coercion, Border Patrol and ICE officers have pressured hundreds, if not thousands, of Mexican nationals with deep roots here in the United States into forfeiting their right to a fair hearing and a chance to live here lawfully, alleges the ACLU in a lawsuit being filed today in federal court in Los Angeles.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights