News & Commentary

Audley Barrington Lyon, Jr. is currently in immigration detention while he fights deportation to Jamaica. A “U visa” is a beacon of hope for Mr. Lyon, who was an innocent bystander when he was seriously injured in shooting. A U visa—available to crime victims who cooperate with criminal investigations—would give him the opportunity to stay in the country with his U.S. citizen wife. Unfortunately, he doesn’t stand a fighting chance.

On Thursday, December 19th President Obama commuted the sentences of eight people who have been imprisoned more than 15 years on crack-cocaine charges, a move in line with his administration's attempts to ease some of the harsher drug-sentencing decisions of the past two decades.

We took the fight for civil liberties into the corporate boardroom and today we mark an important victory. Verizon is finally going to break its silence and publish a transparency report about government demands for information. Last month, we filed shareholder proposals with AT&T and Verizon, calling on both companies to reveal what customer information they hand over to U.S. or foreign governments and how often.

Youth advocates hosted a community forum in Fresno, launching their campaign for better sexual health education in Fresno Unified schools.

Victory: A regulation barring sex workers from receiving victim compensation was repealed last week. The "CalVCP" allows victims to heal both physically and mentally from the brutalization they endured. No person, no matter what, deserves to be raped or to be blamed for that rape.

Today's worldwide celebrations of international Human Rights Day coincide with the commemoration of the life and legacy of the late Nelson Mandela – the freedom fighter, political prisoner, African National Congress leader, and first president of post-apartheid South Africa.

The ACLU-NC mourns the death of Kathryn Korematsu, a teacher, organizer, and tenacious advocate for civil liberties. We came to know Kathryn as the unwavering supporter of her husband, Fred Korematsu, who was represented by the ACLU-NC in his challenge to the World War II internment of Japanese Americans.

Nelson Mandela's wife, Graça Machel, has called him one of the tallest trees in Africa. I would venture to say that Nelson Mandela was one of the tallest trees in all the world.

The ACLU mourns the death of Nelson Mandela, the revered international symbol of freedom who meant so much to people across the world, and who inspired us to be our best selves. Mandela fought against class and racial inequality, political corruption and the devastation of AIDS. He fought for everything we Americans hold dear.