Welcome to the first anniversary issue of The Brief, the monthly email newsletter of the ACLU of Northern California. Over the past year, we've delivered updates on our litigation and advocacy and opportunities to get involved right to your inbox. Now, we'd love to hear your feedback. Take a short survey for a chance to win exclusive ACLU NorCal merch!

Tell Congress to approve a pathway to citizenship

It's time for Congress to summon the political will to fix our broken immigration system and protect millions of people from deportation. Send a message to your representative urging them to pass the Dream and Promise Act, which would create a long overdue pathway to citizenship for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients who came to the U.S. as children, people who have or had Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and other long-term residents who have put down roots here and contributed to the country's economic and cultural vitality. Tell Congress you want a humane and fair immigration system that treats people with dignity and respect, not one that tears families apart.

Vote No on Prop 39

Prop 39 is a dangerous ballot initiative that will make it harder to vote. If passed in November, Californians would be required to show government ID at the polls. And the 80% of voters who vote by mail would have to write a personal ID number on their ballot return envelope, raising the risk of identity theft. California elections are secure. Officials already verify voters' identities and protect ballots at every stage of the process.

Trump couldn't bully Congress into passing voting restrictions designed to rig future elections, but his allies are pushing Prop 39. Don't let politicians decide which voters count. Protect your voice, protect our vote. Vote No on Prop 39.

A major win for equal justice and court access

In a unanimous decision, the California Supreme Court ruled that superior courts must allow electronic recording of civil hearings when an official court reporter isn't available, and people can't afford to hire a private court reporter. Without a transcript, it's practically impossible to mount a successful appeal.

As part of our commitment to preserving equal access to the courts, we filed a brief supporting the petitioners to ensure that all Californians, regardless of financial status, have a verbatim record of their civil case proceedings, which include child custody cases, restraining orders, employment discrimination claims, and guardianships. The ability to get justice should never depend upon the ability to pay.

Fight government spy cameras

Automated license plate readers (ALPR) are popping up in cities across the country, but communities are fighting back. These cameras record the make, model, color, and license plate number of passing vehicles. Flock Safety, the most widely used ALPR system, stores that information in a nationwide database that's accessible to any law enforcement agency, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Under public pressure, cities like El Cerrito and Mountain View have canceled their Flock contracts. Other ALPR vendors are jockeying to take over, but don't be fooled; those cameras also come with dragnet surveillance, minimal transparency, and little accountability. Use our toolkit to find out if your city has Flock cameras and urge local officials to pull the plug.

A racist attack on bilingual voters

Conservative activists are promoting false allegations of noncitizen voting as an excuse to challenge people of color's right to vote and push restrictive voter ID laws. This isn't a new tactic. In 1982, we sued the Reagan administration over a covert investigation of Bay Area residents who requested bilingual voting materials. The government planned to check immigration records to determine if some Spanish- and Chinese-speaking voters were indeed eligible to vote.

In a May 1982 ACLU News article, our former executive director condemned the plot: "The U.S. attorney's investigation of bilingual ballot seekers is blatantly discriminatory on racial and ethnic grounds and has a serious chilling effect on persons who wish to exercise one of our precious democratic rights, the right to vote."

Transforming creativity into impact

Friends of ACLU NorCal are building community and raising resources to support our work via yard sales, house parties, and even a concert series. "As professional singers, we felt at a loss about what we could do to help save our democracy," said Christa Pfeiffer and Joe Meyers. "So, we decided to sing."

Inspired to host your own event to help defend democracy? Start here!

Final Thoughts:

• ACLU NorCal's Defend Democracy Tour is coming to the Bay Area, Sacramento, and Eureka. Check the dates and RSVP to save your spot.
• TSA is sharing passenger information with ICE, which has ramped up airport arrests. Review these travel safety tips from the National Immigration Law Center before you fly. Please note: This link will take you to a third-party website, nilc.org.
• It's back-to-school time. Remember, California students have rights. Please note: This link will take you to a third-party website, myschoolmyrights.com.
• Looking for a good book? Browse the New York Times list of 50 best thrillers of the 21st century.
• We're hiring for multiple positions. Come work with us!

Thanks for reading The Brief! We'll see you back here next month.