ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties

08/20/2024

On August 17, we hosted Health & Justice: An Urgent Call to Action where medical professionals gathered to hear from our guest speakers, Dr. Manisha Sharma and Carmen-Nicole Cox.

The conversations highlighted how health outcomes are directly tied to policy and how providers can leverage their credibility to influence lawmakers and advance policies that can improve patient outcomes.

The sense of commitment to advancing justice and equality for all was palpable throughout the event. Thank you to all who came together to learn, connect and take action!

08/19/2024

Our Constitution protects immigrants.

We’re prepared to take action against Project 2025’s attacks on immigrants’ rights.

08/15/2024

On June 4, the Biden administration signed an executive order that severely restricted people's legal right to seek asylum. Two months have passed, and the impacts are being felt across the entire southern border.

Human Rights First summarizes their findings based on countless interviews conducted by legal service organizations: “In just two months, this change has had disastrous consequences.”

Read the full report, “‘Don’t Tell Me About Your Fear’: Elimination of Longstanding Safeguard Leads to Systematic Violations of Refugee Law,” issued by Hope Border Institute , Human Rights First , Immigrant Defenders Law Center , Kino Border Initiative / Iniciativa Kino para la Frontera , RAICES and Refugees International

Link:
https://humanrightsfirst.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/IFR-report_formatted.pdf

08/14/2024

Join us for a virtual event tomorrow, August 15 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. where we’ll dive into the potential harms of Prop 36 and launch our House Party Toolkit! It’s time to get to work to defeat Prop 36!

Register at https://bit.ly/mibm-8-15 .

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Proposition 36 is a terrible measure on the November 5th ballot that supporters claim will help stop retail theft and address drug-related crimes. In fact, it would merely sweep up more people – many of them Black and Brown – into the system of mass incarceration. Big corporations and law enforcement groups have spent millions to get Prop 36 passed. And they’ve shamelessly misled voters. But the ACLU and our allies are fighting back!

08/13/2024

South Bay community members – join the ACLUF-SDIC for a free legal clinic on August 27! First come, first served.

Los miembros de la comunidad de South Bay – la ACLUF-SDIC le invita a nuestra clínica legal en el 27 de agosto. Por orden de llegada.

08/12/2024

We asked people from six battleground congressional districts across five states about their views on public safety. The majority of respondents agree that investing in the root causes of homelessness, unemployment, and poverty, like investing in affordable housing and job training, is a more effective solution than relying on punishment and incarceration.

To end the cycle of homelessness, people need support — not fines or jail time.

08/10/2024

ICYMI: Last week, the ACLUF-SDIC partnered with the U.S.-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership (BPP) to co-host a powerful Convening on Narrative Change featuring a keynote speaker and a moderated panel discussion entitled “Narrative Change Needs a Posse.” The event included seven subject matter expert speakers from diverse backgrounds:

Andy Carey, executive director at BPP
Norma Chávez-Peterson, executive director at ACLUF-SDIC
Alan Jenkins, professor of practice at Harvard Law School (keynote speaker)
Cheryl Alethia Phelps, chief communications officer at ACLUF-SDIC (panel moderator)
Kristen Plumberg Bennett, director of development at GoCampaign
Felicia Shaw, executive director of San Diego ART Matters
Charlie Sherman, manager of narrative change at The Opportunity Agenda

Together with more than 80 social justice advocates in person and online, we had an informed, inspired conversation about what narrative change is and how to create an echo chamber for our shared narratives to change hearts, minds and public policy. We thank our partners, speakers and attendees for making this convening a success. Let’s continue the conversation!

08/09/2024

San Diego County’s proposed budget is giving $1,286,774,823 to the Sheriff’s Department—that’s enough to fund 5 NFL teams, 9.5 NBA teams or 8.5 MLB teams!

Imagine what even a portion of that money could do for the many under and unfunded community programs & services in our region.

What do you think about the county’s priorities? Where would you like to see increased investments? Drop us a comment to let us know your thoughts.

08/08/2024

Our research delivers a clear message for candidates: Voters are hungry for bold, new solutions, not the same old fear-driven tactics. Check out our blog to learn more about our polling and what voters really want ahead of the 2024 elections.

Link to blog: https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/what-voters-really-want-for-immigration-and-public-safety-reform

08/07/2024

South Bay community members – join the ACLUF-SDIC for a free legal clinic on August 27.

This clinic is by appointment only. Register at bit.ly/south-bay-legal to reserve your spot.

Los miembros de la comunidad de South Bay – la ACLUF-SDIC le invita a nuestra clínica legal en el 27 de agosto.

Esta clínica es sola con cita previa. Viste bit.ly/south-bay-legal reservar su lugar.

08/06/2024

Proposition 36 is a California ballot initiative for November 2024. It is a prison spending scam.
SIGN UP AND SPREAD THE WORD!
StopPrisonScam.org

08/02/2024

Thank you to all who participated in our San Diego County Budget 101 events in July! Together, in Bay Park, La Mesa and Ramona, we discussed each community’s budget priorities and their vision for San Diego County spending.

The first chart shows how the county budget is currently allocated. The next three charts show how attendees in Bay Park, La Mesa, and Ramona want the funds to be distributed, with a significant call for reducing law enforcement spending in favor of increasing community services.

We want a county budget that creates a more equitable and just county for all San Diegans.

08/02/2024

08/01/2024

Racial, economic, health and environmental equity must be prioritized in these plans. Our most impacted community members, our neighbors and families, especially on the north end of the county, must be heard and engaged when discussing plans that impact their futures.

We urge the CEC to host additional in-person workshops with 30-day notice and after work hours to allow for more robust and meaningful participation from working families.

In addition, at least one of the workshops must be held in the north end of Imperial County with transportation for those who need it.

Read full testimony here:
https://www.aclu-sdic.org/en/news/aclu-sdic-testimony-california-energy-commissions-preliminary-staff-assessment-psa-technical

07/26/2024

What an awesome group at our County 101 event in Bay Park!

Our last County 101 event for July is TOMORROW in Ramona – join us!

Register here: bit.ly/county-101-ramona

07/25/2024

California’s fundamental obligation is to safeguard the health, safety, and well-being of every resident, regardless of their housing status.

Yet once again, politicians appear more concerned about optics and the visibility of homelessness than they are with providing services and tackling California’s affordable housing crisis.

Read more:
https://www.aclu-sdic.org/en/news/california-aclus-respond-governor-gavin-newsoms-executive-order-encampments

07/24/2024

We had a great time at our La Mesa County 101 event last night! Our final July County 101 event is this Saturday in Ramona.

Register here: bit.ly/county-101-ramona

07/23/2024

See you tonight in La Mesa for our County 101 event!

Register here: bit.ly/county-101-mesa

07/22/2024

Last week, Felicia Gomez, ACLU-SDIC immigrants’ rights senior policy advocate, had the opportunity to speak to high school students in the Global Youth Leadership Program about the ACLU-SDIC's work to defend human and civil rights locally, including our work to protect the right to seek asylum and ensure access to due process and legal counsel for immigrants who are detained.

The Global Leadership Program is a three-week program designed for high school students run by the San Diego Diplomacy Council with the goal of increasing students' cultural understanding and global acumen.

07/22/2024

A Center for Policing Equity report analyzed San Diego Police Department (SDPD) data, and the results illuminate the continual mistreatment SDPD inflicts on Black communities in San Diego.

Black people were subjected to force 4.6 times as often as white people. In fact, 26% of all use of force incidents recorded between 2016 and 2020 were against Black people, who made up only 6.2 percent of San Diego's population during that period.

Our communities deserve safety from police violence.

Link to report here: https://justicenavigator.org/report/sandiego-city-ca-2021/summary

07/20/2024

We have two more County 101 events for you next week! Join us in La Mesa on July 23 and Ramona on July 27.

Register here for La Mesa: bit.ly/county-101-mesa
Register here for Ramona: bit.ly/county-101-ramona

07/20/2024

Carolyn McCaskill has been a counselor and professor in the ASL and Deaf Studies Department since 1996 at Gallaudet University, the only university in the world in which all programs and services are specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students.

As a Black Deaf woman, Dr. McCaskill has dedicated much of her work to the study and teachings of Black American Sign Language (BASL). BASL is a dialect of American Sign Language that was largely brought about by school segregation in the South and is most commonly used today by Deaf African Americans. Because schools for the deaf were, like other schools at the time, segregated, sign language among Black Americans developed differently than among white signers. Today, the work of scholars like Dr. McCaskill helps preserve and advance the cultural history and impact of BASL.

We celebrate Dr. McCaskill, BASL and Black signers this Disability Pride Month.

07/19/2024

On Monday, ACLU-SDIC attended a community roundtable discussion in Imperial County, which included several Imperial Valley community organizers, organizations, artists and change-makers meeting with the Latino Community Foundation.

The meeting gave the new Latino Community Foundation CEO, Julián Castro, the opportunity to hear about the needs of our local communities. We’d like to thank Imperial Valley Equity and Justice Coalition for inviting us to join in on this important conversation.

07/19/2024

Our next County 101 event is on Tuesday, July 23 in La Mesa - see you there!

Get ready to connect, collaborate and create change at our San Diego Budget County 101 events this month!

Join us as we take a deep dive into the county’s $8.5 billion budget and explore the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, who represent all 3.3 million county residents and make budgeting decisions.

Led by passionate ACLU volunteers and leaders, this is your chance to meet neighbors, discuss how you want your money spent and participate in a “People’s Budget” activity.

Share the information with your friends!

Register here:
https://database.aclu-sdic.org/webform/san-diego-county-101-the-board-of-supervisors-la-mesa

07/19/2024

Say it loud, say it proud. 🌈

Photo credits: Jordana Bermúdez & Hannah Beier

07/18/2024

We had a great time at our Bay Park County 101 event this week – thanks to all who joined us!

Can't wait to do it again in La Mesa and Ramona next week!

RSVP for La Mesa (7/23) here: bit.ly/county-101-mesa
RSVP for Ramona (7/27) here: bit.ly/county-101-ramona

07/17/2024

A decade later and not enough meaningful change has been taken to end the epidemic of deadly police violence towards Black people. ⁠
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Today especially, we keep the Garner family in our thoughts. Eric Garner should still be alive today.

07/17/2024

Thanks to all who joined us at our Bay Park event last night! Our next County 101 event is on Tuesday, July 23 in La Mesa - see you there!

Register at link in bio.

07/16/2024

Tonight! Join us in Mission Bay Park at 6pm for our County 101 event to learn more about the San Diego County Board of Supervisors and the county budget.

Food is provided and childcare is available. Register here: bit.ly/county-101-bay

07/15/2024

[In The News] Prop 47 opponents, and even some of California’s elected officials, have spread a false “shoplifting crisis” narrative to justify calls for increased criminalization in our state. The truth is that Prop 47 is a success. To undo our regional and statewide progress based on dishonest narratives would be irresponsible and harmful.

Read our full coauthored op-ed in Voice of San Diego by Branden Sigua, senior policy advocate at ACLU-SDIC, and Genevieve Jones-Wright executive director of .

Read article:
https://voiceofsandiego.org/2024/07/15/why-proposition-47-is-a-success/