Know Your Rights

Everyone has basic rights under the U.S. Constitution and civil rights laws. We work with communities to make sure people are informed about their rights. When you know what the law says, you can better protect yourself, your family, and your community.

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Know Your Rights
Dec 23, 2024
raised fists and megaphone
  • Free Speech

Know Your Rights: Free Speech, Protests & Demonstrations

Activists! There are many questions you face when exercising your constitutional right to rally, march, and take direct action. Know your rights from civil disobedience to campus organizing.
Know Your Rights
Oct 22, 2025
ICE at Door
  • Immigrants' Rights|
  • +2 Issues

Know Your Rights: If ICE Confronts You

Regardless of your immigration status, you have guaranteed rights under the Constitution. Learn more here about your rights as an immigrant, and how to express them.
Know Your Rights
Apr 04, 2025
Your Rights and the Police
  • Police Practices|
  • +1 Issue

Know Your Rights: Police Interactions

Encounters with the law can be stressful or scary. People have various experiences with law enforcement, some of which are not always fair or legal. This guide provides you practical information that could help you avoid more trouble or potentially harmful situations. The underlined words below are “magic words” that you can repeat over and over to show you know the law. Memorize them. Know your rights, so you can use them.

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Know Your Rights
Jan 20, 2021
Graphic featuring a photo of young students with fists raised in the air. in the background there are two solid color blocks - one light blue, one red.
  • Free Speech|
  • +2 Issues

Racial Equity & Student Expression in Schools

Schools continue to limit student expression and the punishments for speaking up are often applied discriminately. Particularly concerning are incidents of schools restricting the speech of Black students who express support for Black lives.
Know Your Rights
Oct 16, 2020
Your Rights and the Police
  • Police Practices|
  • +1 Issue

Tus Derechos Ante la Policía

Encuentros con agentes del orden publico pueden ser alarmantes y estresantes ya que todos hemos tenido diferentes experiencias con ellos (algunas de ellas no siempre son justas o legales). Hemos creado esta guía para darte información práctica que te podría ayudar a evitar problemas o situaciones que podrían ser peligrosas. En esta guía encontraras frases clave que puedes repetir para demostrar que conoces la ley. Memorízalas.
Know Your Rights
Sep 30, 2020
Know Your Right's for Black and Brown people
  • Police Practices|
  • +1 Issue

Know Your Rights: Police Interactions for Black and Brown People

This is a special Know Your Rights Guide for Black and Brown people. Why is it necessary? Because they often have a very different experience with the police than white people do. Black and Brown people get stopped more because of their skin color even though racial profiling is illegal. They are also more likely to be detained, handcuffed, searched, and have police point guns at them. These encounters aren’t just stressful; as history and recent events have shown, they can be deadly.
Know Your Rights
Sep 30, 2020
Conozca sus derechos: Interacciones con la policía para personas de color
  • Police Practices|
  • +1 Issue

Conozca sus derechos: Interacciones con la policía para personas de color

Esta guía especial de Conozca sus derechos se dirige a las personas de color, afroamericanas y latinas. ¿Por qué es necesaria? Porque con frecuencia estas personas tienen una experiencia con la policía muy distinta a la de las personas blancas. Las personas de color resultan detenidas con mayor frecuencia por razón del color de su piel, a pesar de ser ilegal el uso de perfiles raciales. Tienen también mayor probabilidad de que la policía les detienen, esposen y revisen y que la policía apunta armas a ellos. Estas interacciones no sólo son estresantes; como nos indican la historia y eventos recientes, pueden ser mortales. Aquí tiene información para que conozca cuáles son sus derechos constitucionales durante una interacción con la policía. No obstante, es importante acordar que así tenga usted derechos legales, debe ejercer buen criterio a la hora de decidir cuándo los va a ejercer. Si un agente del orden comienza a actuar de forma agresiva hacia usted, puede que no ser sensato ni seguro de afirmar sus derechos en ese momento. Si usted cree que han sido violados sus derechos, puede registrar una queja contra el agente del orden cuando no esté en una situación posiblemente peligrosa.
Know Your Rights
Jun 16, 2020
Rainbow Flarg
  • LGBTQ+ Rights

California LGBTQ Employment Rights

It is illegal for an employer to fire, demote, fail to hire, fail to promote, harass, or otherwise discriminate against you because of your sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression. Know your rights under state and federal law.
Know Your Rights
Dec 13, 2019
ICE police
  • Immigrants' Rights|
  • +2 Issues

Conozca sus derechos: Agentes de Migración en Tu Puerta

No es requisito legal dejarlos pasar al menos que proporcionen una orden de registro o arresto.
Know Your Rights
Dec 13, 2019
Asian middle eastern know your rights
  • Immigrants' Rights|
  • +1 Issue

Know Your Rights (AMEMSA)

Federal and local law enforcement have historically targeted Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian (AMEMSA) communities, which may face scrutiny, surveillance, intrusive interviews, and unwarranted investigations. The civil rights community is here to support AMEMSA communities.
Know Your Rights
Dec 13, 2019
Know Your Rights When Using Restrooms
  • LGBTQ+ Rights

Know Your Rights: Gender and Restrooms

You can't be stopped from using a restroom or other sex-segrated facility in California based on your perceived gender. Know your rights.
Know Your Rights
Jan 10, 2019
investigations folder
  • Open Government|
  • +1 Issue

Access to California Police Records

SB1421 gives the public the right to see records related to police misconduct. Find out how you can make requests.