It's Time to Repeal the Maximum Family Grant Rule

For more than 20 years, California has maintained a policy of denying financial support to babies born while their families are receiving CalWORKs basic needs grants for older siblings. This policy is known as the Maximum Family Grant (MFG) rule. The only exceptions are for reported rape and incest, and the failure of certain invasive, long-acting contraceptives.

Black and white photo of cupped hands holding a paper cut-out of a family

Hands Off! Don’t Touch My Hair

Black women like Solange Knowles and lesser known individuals like Malaika Singleton, Ashanté Reese - and even myself - have been targeted wrongly by the TSA. Why? Because of our hair.

Novella Coleman's hair

Get a Warrant! Senate Committee Approves E-Privacy Bill

Today the California Senate’s Committee on Public Safety approved the CA Electronic Privacy Act. CalECPA would require police to get a warrant before searching devices or digital data.

Person on laptop via Shutterstock

FBI Ordered to Disclose its Surveillance Tactics on Communities

Today, a federal judge issued an important ruling for government transparency and accountability. Now the FBI must disclose details about its surveillance of Muslim communities under the Freedom of Information Act according to the ruling.

Fresno mosque by David Prasad

Cops' Racist and Homophobic Texts: The Tip of the Iceberg

Recent news of racist and homophobic text messages exchanged by four SFPD officers is troubling, but what's worse is that we don't have a clear picture of how these prejudices actually play out on our streets.

SFPD officers photo by Thomas Hawk

ACLU Lawyer Julia Harumi Mass Named an Attorney of the Year

We are very pleased to announce that California Lawyer magazine has honored our own Julia Harumi Mass with a 2015 California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) award!

Julia Harumi Mass photo by Gigi Pandian

Born and Raised in LA, Detained for Not Looking 'American'

I was born and raised in LA, but sheriffs detained me because they didn’t believe I was an American. I've sued the LA Sheriff’s Department for detaining and harassing me for more than 14 hours after they should have released me.

Protect immigrants' rights - end LA County's 287(g) program.

Rescinding of Resolution a Victory for Religious Freedom in Calaveras County

Today the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to repeal a resolution that promoted one particular religious belief over all others. The vote is a victory for the religious freedom of all Calaveras County residents.

religious freedom

Police Shouldn't Engage in Indiscriminate Secret Cell Phone Surveillance

The ACLU filed lawsuits against two CA law enforcement agencies. The people deserve to know if these agencies are using StingRays without appropriate judicial authorization.

cell phone tower at sunset