NEW YORK – In response to the California Supreme Court decision allowing Prop 8 to stand, four LGBT legal organizations and five other leading national LGBT groups are reminding the LGBT community that ill-timed lawsuits could set the fight for marriage back. The groups released a new publication, “Why the ballot box and not the courts should be the next step on marriage in California.” This publication discourages people from bringing premature lawsuits based on the federal Constitution because, without more groundwork, the U.S. Supreme Court likely is not yet ready to rule that same-sex couples cannot be barred from marriage. The groups also revised “Make Change, Not Lawsuits,” which was released after the California Supreme Court decision ending the ban on marriage for same-sex couples in California. This publication encourages couples who have legally married to ask friends, neighbors and institutions to honor their marriages, but discourages people from bringing lawsuits.
News: ACLU of Northern California
LGBT Organizations Point Out that Lawsuits Could Set Back Progress on Marriage for Same-Sex Couples
ACLU Sues for Release of Fresno Police Department Records
The ACLU of Northern California has filed a lawsuit challenging the City of Fresno’s refusal to release the names of police officers involved in a recent highly publicized incident, in violation of the California Public Records Act (PRA). The suit seeks access to the names of police officers involved in the February 2009 beating and arrest of Glen Beaty and a change to the unlawful policy of refusing to release the names of officers involved highly publicized incidents within the time limits mandated by the PRA. The ACLU-NC requested release of the involved officers’ names three months ago. The California Public Records Act requires public agencies to make records available within 10 days, or, in unusual circumstances, with 24 days of the request. Article I section 3(b)(1) of the California Constitution, enacted by voters in 2004, guarantees that “the people have the right of access to information concerning the conduct of the people’s business.”
News: ACLU of Northern California
Justice urged for murder of human rights defender in Democratic Republic of Congo
Pascal Kabungulu was killed five years ago by a group of armed men who broke into his house and shot him dead in front of his family.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) must bring to justice those responsible for the murder a human rights defender five years ago, Amnesty International and Minority Rights Group International said.
Pascal Kabungulu, a prominent human rights activist, was killed on 31 July 2005 by a group of armed men who broke into his house in Bukavu in eastern DRC, dragged him out of his bedroom and shot him dead in front of his family.
The trial of the men accused of killing him, who include a Colonel in DRC’s armed forces, has been deadlocked since December 2005.
“President Joseph Kabila made a public and personal commitment in 2006 that justice would be done in the case of Pascal Kabungulu,” said Claire Morclette, DRC campaigner at Amnesty International.
“The fact that Pascal’s wife and six children have had to flee the country and yet his killers remain free makes a mockery of this promise.”
In a joint letter to the Congolese Minister of Justice and the Minister of Defence, the two human rights organizations pressed for a speedy resumption in the trial of Pascal Kabungulu’s alleged killers, last adjourned in December 2005.
After an investigation into Pascal’s murder, a number of soldiers were arrested and a military tribunal opened in late November 2005. It was suspended after evidence emerged that more senior political and military figures may have been involved in the killing.
The ruling of the military tribunal was that a higher military court had to hear the case, but no date has been announced for the new trial.
While some of the accused have remained in detention since 2005, the senior figures alleged to be involved in Pascal Kabungulu’s death remain at large, including a brigade commander of the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC). The commander in question has not even been suspended from duty.
“Pascal’s family have waited too long to see justice done,” said Carl Soderbergh of Minority Rights Group International.
“Other human rights defenders in the DRC will remain at risk if senior figures in the army and in government are seen to act above the law.”
The body of another leading human rights defender, Floribert Chebeya Bahizire, was found bound in the back of his car in Kinshasa on 2 June 2010.
Fighting and dying for human rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Feature, 30 July 2010)
Human rights activists targeted in Democratic Republic of Congo (News, 30 June 2010)
Students help frame debates
CLA works with advanced and honours students on topics of mutual interest, where the student gains credits for ‘internship’ programs or honours studies, and CLA benefits from excellent research papers which help to shape a current or future dilemma. See if one of these research ideas interests you.
Civil Liberties Australia – promoting people’s rights, and civil liberties
ACLU Asks Sonoma County Schools to Comply With California Law on Sex Education
On June 3, 2009, ACLU-NC asked Sonoma County schools to comply with California law by replacing abstinence-only sex education with comprehensive curricula that teach about condoms and contraception, as well as abstinence. “California law requires that sex education be based in public health science, not ideology,” said ACLU attorney Margaret Crosby. The curriculum in question, called Free To Be, exaggerates the failure rate of condoms, and suggests that sexual activity outside of marriage inevitably has negative consequences.
News: ACLU of Northern California
ACLU Challenges Defense Department Personnel Policy To Regard Lawful Protests As “Low-Level Terrorism”
Anti-terrorism training materials used by the Department of Defense teach its personnel that free expression in the form of public protests should be regarded as “low level terrorism.” ACLU attorneys are calling the approach “an egregious insult to constitutional values” and have sent a letter to the DoD demanding that the offending materials be changed. “It is fundamentally wrong to equate activism with terrorism,” said ACLU-NC attorney Ann Brick.
News: ACLU of Northern California
Crime down, but perception up
Crime is down in Australia and throughout the western world. But people think crime is rising, with some academics theorising it’s because of all the cop shows on TV. Here’s the official rundown for Australia – what do you think? Read more »…
Civil Liberties Australia – promoting people’s rights, and civil liberties