Blog & Press Releases
Federal courts order Kentucky clerk to issue gay marriage licenses
Over the past few weeks, three different federal courts have mandated that a county clerk in Kentucky must issue marriage licenses to gay couples regardless of the clerk’s personal opposition to gay marriage.
DOJ challenges Idaho’s criminalization of homelessness
This month, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a statement of interest in a federal lawsuit challenging the City of Boise, Idaho’s ban on sleeping in public. The plaintiffs argue that bans on sleeping in public violate their constitutional rights because there is inadequate shelter space available in Boise to accommodate the City’s homeless population.
Youth rise up to address climate change
Last week, at the Next Generation Climate Justice Action Camp (NGCJAC), a diverse group of youth and adult organizers met in Southern Oregon to share tools and stories and prepare the next generation of climate justice organizers for the work that is to come.
Federal court finds jail for immigrant children unlawful
Last week, a federal court in California held that holding immigrant children from Central America in jail during their immigration proceedings was unlawful because it violates the terms of a nation-wide policy established almost 20 years ago. The court found that the failure to release children, the failure to keep children in a non-secure and licensed child care facility, and the deplorable conditions of holding cells all violate the terms of the government’s own policy on detention of immigrant children.
City Dismisses Charges Against SLEEPS Activist
EUGENE, OR: On Friday July 24, 2015, the Assistant City Attorney of Eugene dismissed a criminal case that he filed and prosecuted against Hedin Brugh, a long-time SLEEPS activist who advocated for unhoused people.
Federal court rules that same sex parents must both be listed on birth certificate
Last week, in Roe v. Patton, a federal court in Utah ruled that Utah must recognize a same-sex married couple as the legal parents of their child from birth. Under Utah state law, if a woman becomes pregnant with donated sperm, her husband is automatically recognized as the father even though he is not the biological father. In Roe, the federal court found that this same law must apply equally to a same-sex married couple.
Federal court rejects Washington football team trademark registration claim for using disparaging term
Last week, in Pro-Football Inc. v. Blackhorse, a federal court in Virginia rejected a professional football association’s claim that it is entitled to trademark registration for the “Washington Redskins” logo. The court found that the “R” word may disparage a substantial number of Native Americans. Therefore, the term cannot be registered as a trademark under federal law.
Victory for veterans:
Beginning in 1942, the U.S. government approved the use of human subjects in experiments to test its chemical and biological weapons. The human subjects were tens of thousands of members of the U.S. armed services that the government intentionally exposed to these chemical and biological agents. The experiments lasted for decades.
Major civil liberties victories in Supreme Court
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court issued opinions in six cases that improve or maintain civil liberties. In the most highly awaited case, Obergefell v Hodges, the court legalized gay marriage in all states.
Another win for CLDC
Last week, a federal court in Montana dismissed a charge against a citizen journalist attempting to observe and document the government roundup of wild buffalo outside Yellowstone National Park.
Human rights victory in Montana:
In a significant defeat for the multinational corporate privatization agenda, this week the town of Missoula, Montana seized its water supply and distribution system from the Carlyle Group via eminent domain.
Pro-choice victory
On May 29, in a case called McCormack v. Herzog, the federal U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit struck down Idaho’s ban on abortions. A federal court in Idaho had previously found the law unconstitutional, and the appeals court agreed.
Nebraska outlaws the death penalty and joins a growing trend within the U.S.
Over 150 death row prisoners have been proven innocent and freed with the help of DNA evidence. Even more disturbing, most of the people that have been sentenced to die are poor African American men who have been convicted of killing white victims.
Washington State Appellate Court Strikes Down Anti-SLAPP Statue
On May 28th 2015 the Washington Appellate Court struck down Washington’s Anti-SLAPP Statue
You can read the Decision here: WA Anti-SLAPP
Ireland leads the world
Last week in Ireland, for the first time ever, an entire country decided to legalize gay marriage by a popular vote, also known as a referendum. This is the first time gay marriage has been legalized by a direct vote of the people. The U.S Supreme Court will be deciding a case in June that will have impacts on marriage equality in the United States.
Affirming the right to record police
Last week, federal courts issued two decisions affirming the right of citizens to record police under the First Amendment.
sHell No to Arctic Oil Drilling: Protests in Seattle!
Lauren Regan’s recap from the ShellNo “Paddle in Seattle” action May 15th-18th. Hundreds of activists created a flotilla to stop the Arctic-bound Royal Dutch Shell “Polar Pioneer” oil drilling rig.
Know Your Rights for Unhoused
We are currently updating, more information coming soon. Please stop back by this page in the future, we will be adding a Know Your Rights for Unhoused training video and more information soon. Resources Know Your Rights - Unhoused Brochure Know Your Rights- Unhoused...
Three strikes against unchecked government spying and censorship
Last week was a busy week for privacy and free speech advocates. In New York, a federal appeals court issued a decision finding that the National Security Agency’s (NSA) telephone metadata collection program is illegal. In California, a federal court issued a preliminary injunction against a San Diego jail policy allowing “postcards only” for inmates. In Washington D.C., a federal court held that conducting invasive, forensic searches of laptops seized at airports is illegal.
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