Photo of City of San Diego seal in the city council chambers. An American flag is in the left bottom corner.

ACLU-SDIC Public Comment – City of San Diego Risk Management Presents on Settlements & Judgments Against SDPD

The following prepared public comment, following a presentation by the City of San Diego’s Risk Management on settlements and judgments against the San Diego Police Department (SDPD), outlines the significant amount of city funds used for these SDPD settlements and how that money would be better spent investing in our communities. This public comment was delivered before the San Diego City Council Budget and Government Efficiency Committee by ACLU-SDIC Senior Policy Advocate Branden Sigua on June 17, 2026.

By Branden Sigua

Latest Press Release


Workers and Advocacy Groups Challenge DHS’s Illegal Warrantless Arrest Policy 

DHS practice amounts to “arrest people and ask questions later.” 
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Stay informed on civil rights issues. Discover our latest actions and updates in the Press Release section.

Samantha Itazawa (long dark hair, bangs, wearing black longsleeve shirt) delivers testimony into microphone standing before a seated crowd.

ACLU-SDIC Public Testimony – San Diego City Council Resolution in Support of Somali Community

The following public comment outlines the ACLU-SDIC's support for a resolution in support for our Somali community. This public comment was delivered before the San Diego City Council by ACLU-SDIC Staff Attorney Samantha Itazawa on June 15, 2026.

By Samantha Itazawa

Daniela holding rainbow fan that says "fan of equal rights"

ACLU-SDIC Public Testimony – Support for Pride Month Resolution at Central Union High School District Board Meeting

The following public comment outlines the ACLU-SDIC's support for a LGBTQIA+ Pride Month Resolution. This public comment was delivered before the Central Union High School District Board by ACLU-SDIC Senior Organizer Daniela Vega on June 9, 2026. The resolution passed with a 4-1 vote.

By Daniela Vega

Sign that says San Diego says Flock Off!

ACLU-SDIC Public Comment – City of San Diego Holds Hearing on Approval of FY27 Budget

The following public comment outlines the ACLU-SDIC's opposition to the city of San Diego's contracts with Flock Safety and support for services and resources related to youth, libraries, arts, housing, parks and other programs that help San Diegans thrive. This public comment was delivered before the San Diego City Council by ACLU-SDIC Senior Policy Advocate Branden Sigua on June 9, 2026.

By Branden Sigua

San Diego ACLU Celebrates Constitution Day with 400+ Class Discussions

List of Participating Legal Organizations
California Innocence Project
California Western School of Law
City Attorney of El Cajon
Cooley LLP
Crowley Law Group
Office of the San Diego District Attorney
DLA Piper
Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc.
Foley & Lardner
Higgs, Fletcher & Mack
Jones Day
Latham & Watkins
Law Office of Alex Landon
Law Offices of Eric Morton
Law Office of Isaac Blumberg
Law Office of Jennifer L. Coon
Law Office of Rebecca P. Jones
Legal Aid Society of San Diego
MacLeod & Catalano
McKenna Long & Aldridge
Mitchell Gilleon Law Firm
Office of the California Attorney General
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch
Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd
San Diego Public Defender
Seltzer Caplan
Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton
Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith
Sullivan Hill Lewin Rez & Engel
Thomas Jefferson School of Law
Office of the United States Attorney, Southern District of California
U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps

and

Callaway Golf Company
Qualcomm

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San Diego ACLU to Bill Horn: Three Strikes and You’re Out!

SAN DIEGO – Upon being alerted by San Diego CityBeat that Supervisor Bill Horn had proposed a $10,000 grant from the supervisor’s taxpayer-funded “Neighborhood Reinvestment Fund” to an organization with a professed religious mission, the San Diego ACLU sent a letter to the Board advising supervisors that approval of the grant would violate the Constitution. Shortly before the item was to be voted on at the Tuesday, September 11 Board meeting, the item was removed by Supervisor Horn.

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San Diego ACLU 2012 Ballot Measure Positions

• The dignity and equality of every human being
• Vigilance against abuse of power
• The principled approach rather than the convenient one when individuals’ rights are at stake
• Speaking truth to power even when it is unpopular to do so
• Fairness and respect in human and organizational interactions
• An educated and participatory public

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ACLU of California Endorses Prop 30

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Voting Rights Quiz: What is at Stake

Shocking attempts to block the vote have been all over the news this election cycle.But do you know how many people are at risk of having their fundamental right to vote taken away? Or who these out-of-control laws are targeting the most?You'll know the answer to both those questions after you complete a short quiz, part of the ACLU's new "Let People Vote" initiative.Click here to take the quiz!

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Parents and Doctors Sue Clovis Unified School District Over Sex Education

FRESNO, CA – Today parents and physicians sued the Clovis Unified School District over its high school abstinence-only-until-marriage sex education. The lawsuit charges that the district is violating California law and putting teens’ health at risk by teaching students misinformation and denying them critical instruction about condoms and contraception.

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ACLU, Allies to Ask California Supreme Court to Continue Teacher Layoff Protections for Students at 45 Los Angeles Schools

LOS ANGELES – Attorneys representing students and parents at three struggling Los Angeles schools released the following statement in response to the California Court of Appeal’s decision earlier today in Reed vs. UTLA. The following statement is from Catherine Lhamon, Director of Impact Litigation at Public Counsel; Mark Rosenbaum, Chief Counsel at the ACLU of Southern California; and Sean Gates of Morrison & Foerster LLP:

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School District Agrees to Ensure Equal Opportunity for English Learners

Major civil rights organizations have reached a settlement agreement with the Dinuba Unified School District (DUSD) to ensure that young English learners have an equal chance to succeed. The agreement, which was finalized at a school board meeting last week, comes as the result of a lawsuit filed in May by Dinuba parents and teachers. The plaintiffs are represented by the ACLU of Northern California, the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties, the ACLU of Southern California, California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc., the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC), and the law firm of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.

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Non-Legal Internships Fall 2012

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