News & Commentary

In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision that cities can cite and arrest people simply for being homeless, San Francisco has ramped up aggressive enforcement against homeless encampments.

Indigenous students often face barriers when schools deny them the right to wear traditional regalia at graduation. This issue highlights a broader conflict between cultural identity and institutional policies. The blog advocates for respecting and celebrating Indigenous heritage during graduation ceremonies.

John Do is the ACLU of Northern California’s lead counsel for a lawsuit challenging the city’s costly and ineffective practice of destroying unhoused individuals’ belongings, and citing, arresting, and moving them without offering shelter. For Do, who grew up poor in subsidized public housing, ending homelessness is personal. “I’ve always seen homelessness as a direct result of decades of poor policymaking and a lack of investment in affordable housing,” said Do, a senior attorney with the Racial and Economic Justice Program. “Without it, I know with one hundred percent certainty that my family would have been homeless.”

The U.S. Supreme Court's affirmation of the Indian Child Welfare Act was a landmark victory for tribal sovereignty and Native families. But despite the law's protections, Native and Black children are much more likely to be removed from their homes and placed in foster care. The government must do more to support struggling families and help them stay together.

The Indian Child Welfare Act — a law that protects Native children from forced removal from their families, tribes, and culture — is currently under attack.