LOS ANGELES - The ACLU and the California Library Association (CLA) are calling upon voters to urge their California representatives to support legislation that would roll back some of the USA PATRIOT Act's most dangerous provisions, including the government's ability to search individuals' library records, Internet activity and bookstore purchases.

"Several of the provisions in the USA PATRIOT Act go too far and increase the chances that innocent Americans will be swept into terrorism investigations by removing traditional checks and balances on law enforcement and oversight powers from the judiciary," said Ramona Ripston, Executive Director of the ACLU of Southern California. "Today, we continue our campaign to raise public awareness about the PATRIOT Act and encourage Californians to take back their liberties."

As part of the campaign, full-page ads in twelve alternative newspapers throughout California, with a combined circulation of more than one million, will start running on January 21-28. The headline reads: "Don't you hate it when someone reads over your shoulder? Especially when that someone is the Justice Department" and calls upon individuals to contact their representatives and urge them to support the SAFE Act.

"This the latest public education campaign launched by the ACLU-SC and the California Library Association," said Christopher Calhoun, Deputy Director of Public Policy for the ACLU-SC. "Last year, together with the CLA, we undertook a successful campaign to inform library patrons that their records were subject to FBI scrutiny under the PATRIOT Act. As a part of that campaign we distributed posters and bookmarks to over 3,000 libraries throughout the state."

Senators Larry Craig (R-ID) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) introduced the SAFE Act late last year and Representative Butch Otter (R-ID) introduced a companion bill in the house. The bill, if passed, would do the following:

- Limit the government's ability to conduct widespread searches of an individual's records, without probable cause or individualized suspicion;

- Limit the government's use of "sneak and peek searches" and require notification within seven days (currently notification can be delayed indefinitely);

- Make sure that intelligence agents cannot search library records unless there is suspicion that an individual is involved with a foreign power.

"Your public library records should be a SAFE haven where you can be assured that, whatever magazine you read, web site you visit or book you check out, that information will be kept private," said Susan Hildreth, CLA President. "We support the SAFE Act so that libraries can continue to remain institutions of free expression and exploration of ideas. We are proud that the California Library Association and the ACLU affiliates of California have forged this partnership to restore our precious constitutional rights."

The PATRIOT Act was rushed through Congress in just 45 days after the attacks on September 11, 2001. On Wednesday, Los Angeles became the largest locality to join over 230 governing bodies - including the state legislatures of Hawaii, Alaska and Vermont - to pass resolutions opposing provisions of the PATRIOT Act.

"In his State of the Union address, President Bush called for an extension of the PATRIOT Act's powers," said Ramona Ripston, Executive Director of the ACLU-SC. "The actions undertaken by the Los Angeles City Council and the members of Congress sponsoring the SAFE Act demonstrate widespread public disapproval of the PATRIOT Act as it stands now. People throughout the country are talking about curtailing the Act's powers, not extending them; the President would be wise to listen to the voice of the American people."

Through its website www.aclusocal.org the ACLU-SC is urging individuals to send letters to their Congressional representatives asking them to support the SAFE Act.

To view the ad and take action on the SAFE Act, visit www.aclusocal.org

LOS ANGELES - In a victory for civil liberties, the Los Angeles City Council today passed a resolution condemning the unconstitutional aspects of the USA-PATRIOT Act. The City of Los Angeles is the largest locality in the country to pass such a resolution, joining over 230 cities, counties and even states throughout the nation that have passed similar resolutions.

"This is a huge victory for civil liberties," said Ramona Ripston, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California. "Los Angeles is the largest city to pass a resolution in support of civil liberties and critical of the USA-PATRIOT Act. Angelenos should be proud that their City Council stands on the side of those who believe we can be both safe and free. Today's resolution sends a clear message to those who assume that Americans will tolerate the erosion of our basic Constitutional rights."

"As a city, we pride ourselves on being inclusive and protecting the basic rights of all people," said Councilmember Jan Perry, the sponsor of the resolution. "Significant portions of the PATRIOT Act destroy the spirit of inclusion and encourage racial profiling and other violations of our rights as people of this great nation. This is an opportunity for the City of Los Angeles to join other major cities across the nation to voice its concern to our federal government."

Wednesday's City Council action takes place less than 24 hours after President George W. Bush, in the State of the Union address, called for a permanent extension of the broad new powers granted to the government under the USA-PATRIOT Act. Currently, portions of the law are designed to "sunset" after 2005.

"The City Council's actions underscore the fact that there is widespread opposition to the PATRIOT Act," continued Ripston. "All across this country, people of all walks of life and of all political persuasions are continuing to voice concern about the expansion of government powers under this Administration."

"Clearly there are enough reservations about the PATRIOT Act as it stands now - any talk of expanding the Act is not grounded in reality," she added.

The USA-PATRIOT Act was passed on October 26, 2001, just 45 days after the September 11th attacks. The 342-page piece of legislation was passed with little debate by the Members of Congress, most of whom did not even read the bill. The Act gives the Executive Branch sweeping new powers that weaken the American system of checks and balances that is designed to guard against government encroachment.

"The PATRIOT Act trashes the checks and balances that guard against tyranny," said Councilmember Eric Garcetti, who voted in favor of the resolution. "Instead of fighting Americans' real fears with hope and strength, it exploits our fears by turning everything from following the immigrant dream to patronizing the library into an act of suspicion. I am proud to stand with the City of Los Angeles and call upon Congress to take our liberty and our security seriously."

ACLU and Statewide Coalition Announce Largest Ever Study of Anti-Gay Harassment in Schools, Showing Strong Need and Proven Solutions

Study Providing That Schools Can Take Steps To Improve Student Safety Has National Implications for Addressing Harassment on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

LOS ANGELES - Despite an anti-harassment law that took effect four years ago this month, harassment and bullying based on sexual orientation remain persistent and pervasive in California schools. 7.5% of California's middle and high school students, more than 200,000 students every year, are targets of harassment based on actual or perceived sexual orientation, according to a study released by the California Safe Schools Coalition, a statewide coalition of experts and advocates of which the ACLU is a leading member. The Coalition is working to implement the California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000, which prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in California schools. The Safe Place to Learn study found that widespread bullying has dangerous academic, health and safety consequences for students - but it also found that such bullying is preventable.

"We've just completed the largest ever study of the problem of anti-gay harassment in schools," said Christopher Calhoun of the ACLU of Southern California, a member organization of the California Safe Schools Coalition, "and the numbers paint a stark picture. For most students targeted on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, California's groundbreaking school nondiscrimination law is still an empty promise."

"It's time for school districts and the state to wake up to a health epidemic of shocking proportions and with serious consequences," said Calhoun. "This problem cannot be trivialized or denied. Fortunately, our research also demonstrates that schools can take clear steps to prevent this problem."

Among the findings in the Safe Place to Learn Study are:

Data from the CHKS show that these 200,000 students harassed on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation are

' three times more likely to miss school because they feel unsafe,

' more than twice as likely to be depressed, to consider suicide, or to make a plan for suicide.

' more likely to have low grades, use drugs, smoke, drink alcohol, or be victims of violence.

' more likely to report weaker connections to peers, community, teachers and other adults - critical safety nets for any young person.

The in-depth companion survey found that school campuses in California are hostile climates for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students and gender non-conforming students.

' Two in every three LGBT students reported harassment based on sexual orientation, and 47% of LGBT students experienced repeated harassment.

' Almost half of their peers agree that their school is not safe for LGBT students.

' 91% of all students report hearing their peers use slurs about sexual orientation.

' More than 40% reported hearing teachers making such negative comments or slurs.

' In addition, 27% of students reported being harassed because they weren't "masculine enough" or "feminine enough," and more than half of all students said their schools are unsafe for boys who aren't as masculine as other boys.

The Safe Place to Learn study proves the effectiveness of several specific steps schools can take including posting and enforcing anti-harassment policies that specifically include sexual orientation and gender identity, training teachers and staff to intervene when slurs are used, and supporting efforts to establish Gay Straight Alliance clubs on campus. These steps result in reducing harassment and name-calling, improving students' feelings of safety, and strengthening their connections to community and adults.

"Students deserve to learn in an environment that helps them reach their full potential," said Molly O'Shaughnessy, the Director of the California Safe Schools Coalition. "This study proves that schools can take these specific steps to reach that goal."

California is among nine states with laws against discrimination or harassment in schools based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

"As more and more states pass nondiscrimination laws, and as lawsuits proliferate, schools are beginning to realize they need solutions," said Calhoun. "Our report provides research-based solutions to this national epidemic and can help schools comply with the law and create a safe place to learn for all students."

The Safe Place to Learn study, which analyzes survey responses from more than 237,000 students who took the California Healthy Kids Survey, it includes 26-times more respondents than any other survey on the issue in the nation. It is also the first comprehensive statewide analysis of harassment based on sexual orientation and gender nonconformity in California, where more than one-in-eight of the nation's children are growing up.

The report analyzes data from the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS), a broad-based state survey, and an independent companion survey conducted by the California Safe Schools Coalition measuring the effectiveness of school anti-harassment practices. The data were analyzed by the California Safe Schools Coalition and researchers at UC Davis' 4-H Center for Youth Development.

Members of the California Safe Schools Coalition include the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California; Anti-Defamation League; California Teachers Association; Equality California; Gay-Straight Alliance Network; Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network; Human Rights Watch; L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center; National Center for Lesbian Rights; Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbians and Gays; San Diego LGBT Community Center; Transgender Law Center; and Women's Educational Media.