News & Commentary

Imagine this scenario: A student speaks out of turn in class and is immediately referred to the principal’s office then suspended from school for three days. This is the harsh reality of a catch-all school disciplinary code commonly known as “willful defiance” that causes California students to lose an estimated 250,000 days of instruction each year.All students have the right to a quality education regardless of who they are and what they look like. However, the overuse of the willful defiance punishment for minor misbehavior puts too many students on the path to failure, mostly students of color and students with disabilities. We know that suspending students for nonviolent incidents forces them to miss critical classroom time, causing many to fall behind and prompting some to drop out altogether.

Job Announcement ACLU Foundation of San Diego & Imperial Counties Senior Communications StrategistThe ACLU Foundation of San Diego & Imperial Counties (ACLUF-SDIC) is seeking a skilled, full-time Senior Communications Strategist.The ACLUF-SDIC is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 civil liberties and civil rights organization working to advance equality, freedom and justice. The ACLUF-SDIC affiliate covers the length of California’s border with Mexico. We have 38 staff members, 23 board members, and an annual budget of $4.8 million. The ACLUF-SDIC is also part of the ACLU Foundations of California, a collaboration of the state’s three ACLU affiliates. The ACLU’s California offices are located in San Diego, El Centro, Los Angeles, Orange County, the Inland Empire, Fresno, San Francisco and Sacramento. Together, the three affiliates have more than 300,000 members and 200 staff people. In addition, we work collaboratively with our sister affiliates along the U.S-Mexico border and value partnerships and collaboration with community organizations and groups across the state and in the border region.The ACLUF-SDIC utilizes an integrated approach to confront unjust policies that threaten individuals’ civil rights and freedoms and to defend the progress we have made as a nation, state and region. We have a proven track record of success combining and leveraging our litigation, policy advocacy, legislation, research and analysis, public education, strategic communications and community organizing expertise to achieve meaningful social change. Our work is accomplished in conjunction with our 501(c)4 organization, the American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego & Imperial Counties. Both organizations have the same overall mission. Two separate corporate entities allow us to conduct a broad range of work to protect and advance civil liberties.Position Overview The Senior Communications Strategist translates the ACLU’s advocacy, public education and legal work into powerful written content and other communications products across our many platforms in order to broaden our reach and impact and mobilize support for our mission.This individual creates value-based messages, employs traditional and cutting-edge communications approaches, and spearheads effective communications campaigns. S/he informs and inspires multiple and diverse audiences about ACLU issues and focus areas. S/he works cooperatively with ACLU colleagues (in this affiliate, other affiliates and the national office) and external allies. The Senior Communications Strategist reports to the Communications Director.Specific Responsibilities:Strategic Communications

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES
CONTACT:
Edward Sifuentes, 619.300.6166, esifuentes@aclusandiego.org

WHAT:
Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego) will join community members and advocates at a community forum to discuss legislation (AB 931) she introduced this year to update California’s standards for police use of force law. Current law allows police to use deadly force even when they have other alternatives, and even if their own gross negligence created the threat. AB 931 will change the standard to allow police officers to use deadly force only when officers have no reasonable alternatives to prevent imminent death or bodily injury.

WHO:
Norma Chávez-Peterson, Executive Director, ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties
Assemblymember Shirley Weber, (79 AD)
Theresa Smith, whose son Caesar Cruz was killed by Anaheim PD in 2009
Cephus “Uncle Bobby” Johnson, uncle to Oscar Grant, who was killed by BART Police in Oakland in 2009

WHEN:
Wednesday, July 25, 6 p.m. PT

WHERE:
Cherokee Point Elementary School
3735 38th Street
San Diego, CA 92105