News & Commentary

Did you know that California pioneered the public defender system in the early 1900s? It's time for our state to step up again.

The ACLU has been fighting against censorship for nearly a century. April is National Poetry Month, so we’ve been thinking about a free speech case from sixty years ago that involved a small but powerful book of poetry.

No one should have to turn on their tap and wonder if the water is safe to drink. But thousands of homes across the state are connected to water sources contaminated with a cancer-causing chemical called 1,2,3-TCP.

California incarcerates thousands of people while they await their court dates - simply because they can’t afford to post bail. Meanwhile, wealthy people can easily buy their freedom. 

One disturbing new trend is the increase in immigration arrests at state courthouses across the country. Beyond posing public safety dangers, these arrests also threaten our constitutional rights.

Two weeks ago, a mother of two was driving to church when local police pulled her over. The officer issued a fix-it ticket and within 30 minutes, immigration officers were at her door to deport her. She is now living in hiding. 

Students on yearbook staff wrote an article about Black Lives Matter. When their principal rejected it, they knew it was time to speak up for their rights. Students have a right to free speech and expression at school. This includes political speech, cultural expression, and speech that a school district may preemptively feel is controversial. 

We fled Guatemala looking for a safer and more peaceful life. What happened to us after crossing the border changed our lives.  

Nos fuimos de Guatemala buscando una vida pacífica. Lo que paso después que cruzamos la frontera nos cambió la vida.