News & Commentary

California is known for protecting the rights of marginalized people. The ACLU of California sponsored and supported incredible legislation that was ultimately signed by the governor. And we couldn't have done it without our partners.

Bail reform is gaining steam, and we couldn’t be happier. Across the country, counties and states are tackling problems with their money bail systems. Even Congress — dysfunctional as it can be — is taking a look at the issue. And, here in California, bail reform has become a top priority for state policymakers.

From being jailed for having long hair to not being allowed to marry someone of another race, here’s a snapshot of what was going on with civil liberties 50 years ago.

Over the past decade, advocates have pushed state and local education agencies to collect and release data on how students are treated in their schools and justice systems.

Equal and fair treatment of students isn't something that can be taken for granted. It must be monitored. Data advocacy has long been a part of civil rights work, whether in the arenas of housing, employment, or education.

When it comes to the criminal justice system, the odds are stacked against queer and trans people. The money bail system is no different.

Jails have become America's top place to warehouse people living with mental health challenges. Far too many of those incarcerated are locked up for low-level offenses related to their health condition.

Every year, money bail boosts bail insurance corporations’ profits at the expense of millions of low-income people of color.

For months, the Trump administration has tried to bully local communities into signing up to become extensions of the federal deportation system. That campaign of threats and public shaming based on flawed data — which has been mostly unsuccessful — suffered another major blow yesterday. A federal court in San Francisco ruled in two cases that the president’s threats were unconstitutional, and stopped the government from carrying them out anywhere in the country. The ruling vindicates the constitutional rights of cities, counties, and states to refuse to participate in deportations. And like the court orders halting the president’s Muslim ban, the ruling shows the crucial role that courts play in preventing presidential overreach.