News

SACRAMENTO — The ACLU Foundation of Northern California along with the law firm Rogers Joseph O’Donnell today filed suit on behalf of Black Lives Matter leaders who were unlawfully blocked from Sacramento Sheriff Scott Jones’ official Facebook page. Tanya Faison and Sonia Lewis, co-leaders of Black Lives Matter Sacramento, have been vocal critics of the sheriff and other law enforcement officia... Read More

SEATTLE — A group of Amazon shareholders announced today that they have filed a shareholder resolution echoing widespread calls for Amazon to stop sales of facial recognition to the government. The shareholder resolution, which asks Amazon’s board of directors to prohibit sales of facial recognition technology to government agencies unless the board concludes that the technology does not pose actu... Read More

SACRAMENTO — Yesterday, the California Secretary of State confirmed that a bail-bond-industry-funded referendum campaign asking voters to overturn Senate Bill 10, the recent legislation that would eliminate the bail bond industry in California, has qualified to be on the November 2020 ballot. In response, the following statement can be jointly attributed to the three executive directors of the ... Read More

SAN FRANCISCO — The ACLU Foundation of Northern California has sent Public Records Act (PRA) requests to multiple law enforcement agencies on behalf of people seeking information about the officers involved in the killings of their loved ones. A new law, SB 1421, went into effect in California on Jan. 1. The historic legislation makes public previously secret information about officers who shoo... Read More

NEW YORK — A coalition of over 85 racial justice, faith, and civil, human, and immigrants’ rights groups today sent letters to Microsoft, Amazon, and Google demanding the companies commit not to sell face surveillance technology to the government.  The coalition makes it clear to each company that a decision to provide face surveillance technology to the government threatens the safety of commu... Read More

SACRAMENTO — Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom introduced his budget proposal for the 2019-20 Fiscal Year. Included in the budget was a commitment to expand paid family leave to six months from the current six weeks. In addition to expanding the length of leave, the Administration will consider other changes—including alignment of existing worker protections and non-retaliation protections—t... Read More

SAN DIEGO – As San Diego County struggles to address a growing migrant shelter crisis, Governor Gavin Newsom today unveiled his proposed budget for the 2019-20 Fiscal Year that includes a $25 million General Fund investment (including $5 million to be made available this year) for a community-based rapid response program for nonprofit first responders helping migrant families seeking protection fr... Read More

SACRAMENTO – Just days after being sworn in as California’s 40th governor, Gavin Newsom unveiled his proposed budget today for the 2019-20 Fiscal Year, including a $124.9 million investment to expand preschool education to all low-income four-year-olds over the next three years. In response, Sylvia Torres-Guillén, the ACLU of California's Director of Education Equity, issued the following state... Read More

Download the Fall 2019 ACLU of Northern California Newsletter and read about our latest events and initiatives. Read More

BANGKOK — Google today made it clear that it has not, and will not, sell a facial recognition surveillance product until the technology’s dangers are addressed, citing its susceptibility to abuse. Nicole Ozer, technology and civil liberties director for the American Civil Liberties Union of California, issued the following comment in response: “This is a strong first step. Google today demon... Read More

WASHINGTON — Reports released today indicate that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents are using tear gas against migrants attempting to seek asylum at the San Ysidro port of entry at the Mexico/California border. Lorella Praeli, deputy political director at the ACLU, had the following response: “Under no circumstances should CBP be using tear gas on children. This show of violence is ... Read More

SAN FRANCISCO — Today, a bail-bond-industry-funded campaign turned in signatures in an effort to qualify a referendum for the November 2020 ballot asking voters to overturn Senate Bill 10, the recent bail reform legislation that would end commercial bail in California.  In response, American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California Executive Director Abdi Soltani issued the following statem... Read More