California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (CRLA) honored legal director David Blair-Loy as represenattive of the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties for its work in fighting to preserve the basic rights of California’s vulnerable communities.

At its celebration of four decades of advocacy, the CRLA thanked the ACLU, Blair-Loy, and executive director Kevin Keenan for being a "Justice Partner."

"Thank you for allowing us to honor your example, so that others follow," said Jose Padilla, executive director of CRLA. "Justice needs its true defenders and its heroes. Thank you for being one of those."

The affiliate's work in beating back a draconian measure that would have required landlords to check the immigration status of their tenants and its work defending the free speech rights of day laborers was highlighted.