The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today reiterated its call for an open meeting of the Police Commission regarding the request for reappointment by Chief of Police Bernard Parks. While the ACLU/SC has not taken a position on Chief Parks' reappointment, the affiliate is in agreement with the Chief on the issue of an open Police Commission meeting.
"The people of this city deserve to know how their Chief of Police will be judged by the Commission," said Ramona Ripston, Executive Director of the ACLU/SC. "Not only is an open meeting sound public policy, but this issue is of vital importance to the community. Chief Parks has waived his right to a confidential job review and the commission should grant his request to open the meeting to the public."
On Thursday, March 28, the Chief requested an open meeting with the Police Commission and waived his right to privacy. Since then various groups with diverging views on the Chief's reappointment have weighed in on his behalf in support of an open meeting.
"The need for an open meeting is particularly pressing, given that these deliberations take place in the aftermath of one of the largest police corruption scandals in our Nation's history," wrote Dan Tokaji, ACLU/SC Staff Attorney in a letter to the commission sent today. "At a time when the need for public accountability of the Los Angeles Police Department is at its greatest, it is unfortunate that the Police Commission would choose to deliberate the reappointment of the City's police chief behind a veil of secrecy."
Although the ACLU/SC has been critical of Chief Parks' performance, particularly in the areas of reform and civilian review, it is in full agreement with the Chief that the hearings should be open to the public. The ACLU/SC has continually cited the "culture of secrecy" surrounding the LAPD as one of the main obstacles to true police reform. By refusing to open the meeting to the public, the organization believes, the Police Commission will be contributing to the very culture that has hindered reform efforts time and time again.
"To conduct the deliberations over Chief Parks' reappointment in closed session is to continue an unfortunate pattern, prevalent throughout the Department's troubled history of resisting public accountability," continued Tokaji. "It is precisely such an insistence upon secrecy rather than openness that has created an atmosphere in which police misconduct ? such as that prevalent in the Rampart Division ? can fester unchecked, resulting in a widespread loss of public trust in those who are sworn to serve and protect."

Fred Okrand, Legal Director Emeritus of the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, passed away Monday night after a long illness.

Almost all of Fred's legal career was devoted to the ACLU. While practicing law in the private sector, he served as a volunteer attorney for the affiliate for 21 years. In 1972 he was appointed Legal Director, a position he held until his retirement in 1984. Fred continued as Legal Director Emeritus.

A graduate of UCLA in 1937, Fred received his law degree from USC in 1940. He was counsel for more than 500 reported civil liberties cases. He is best remembered, however, for his groundbreaking ? and highly courageous ? challenge to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.

Throughout his illness, Fred never stopped working. He was co-counsel on a class action lawsuit, Mochizuki et al v. U.S., on behalf of 2,264 persons of Japanese ancestry who were uprooted from their homes throughout Latin America and forcibly brought to and imprisoned in INS "enemy alien" internment camps in this country. The kidnapings were part of a U.S. government scheme during World War II to use Japanese Latin Americans ? most of whom had never been to Japan ? in civilian prisoner exchanges. Just recently, Fred spoke at a forum on "Civil Liberties and the Need for National Security: What Lessons Can We Learn from the Japanese American Experiences During World War II?"

Honored frequently for his work, Fred was the 1992 Constitutional Rights Foundation/ Los Angeles County Bar Association Lawyer of the Year, the holder of the 1993 "Share the Dream" (Justice) Award of the Japanese American Citizens League, recipient of the Los Angeles Harvard Club's 1979 John Harvard Community Service Award, and the subject of the UCLA oral history project, "Forty Years Defending the Constitution." The ACLU presented Fred with its Lifetime Achievement Award at last year's Law Luncheon; his wife, Mimi, accepted the award to a standing ovation.

Two years ago, Foundation Board member Alan Sieroty established a staff attorney position named in honor of Fred and his long-time partner and fellow-ACLU attorney, Al Wirin.

"I feel so privileged to have worked with Fred. He was always inspiring as well as always being upbeat. He was a fierce advocate who never sought personal glory. Fred was a legal giant. He argued at least four cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, and was the force behind some of the most significant constitutional challenges in our nation. He will be sorely missed," said Ramona Ripston, executive director of the ACLU of Southern California.

Fred is survived by his wife, Mimi, and their two sons, Dean and Marc. The family has arranged for a private cremation, after which Fred's ashes will be scattered on the ocean. The ACLU will plan a memorial service after consultation with his family.

LOS ANGELES ? On International Women's Day, Friday, March 8, 2002 the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California announced the launch of its Latina Rights Project. The Project, a pilot initiative of the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, will utilize model litigation, bilingual/bicultural public education and public policy advocacy to address priority civil rights issues facing Latina women and girls in Southern California.

Working in collaboration with community-based advocates and a multi-disciplinary Advisory Board, the Project will serve as a bridge among diverse civil rights advocacy communities, addressing barriers to access and opportunity, while promoting Latina's self-empowerment.

"Latinas represent one of the fastest growing demographic groups throughout the state," said Rocio Cordoba, Staff Attorney with the ACLU/SC and Director of the Latina Rights Project. "Unfortunately while the Latina population continues to grow and expand, their access to basic services and equal opportunities in the areas of health and education continues to dwindle. The Latina Rights Project will work to address some of the alarming disparities that exist in the Latina community."

According to U.S. Census estimates, Latina/os represent 32.4% of California's population, Latinas make up 25% of the state's female population. While representing a major constituency in the state, Latinas face some of the most daunting problems in the areas of health and education. For example, 61% of California Latinas aged 25-44 have no high school diploma, 24% graduated from high school and only 15% have gone on to post-secondary education.

"What we find is that there are a number of pressures that contribute to some of these unfortunate statistics," said Mireya Gutierrez, project Advisory Board member and Director of National Latina Alliance, a grasssroots organization that seeks to empower Latinas through education and policy analysis. "Often times, these girls have to act as surrogate mothers, taking care of younger sisters and brothers because their parents have to work long hours in order to make ends meet. This leaves little opportunity to participate in after-school programs or extra curricular activities."

In the area of health care, Latinas make up the majority of uninsured women throughout California at 33%, nationally the number climbs to 42%. The maternal mortality rate among Latinas in the United States is 1.7 times the rate for white women.

"Working with the Latino/a community, we see that often times women are not aware of the resources that are available to them," said Kristina Moreno, Policy Director for Latino Health Care of Los Angeles. "Whether it be in the area of prenatal care, reproductive health or access to basic health services there is a lack of public education and the community suffers because of that. This project will work to inform Latinas of their basic health care and reproductive rights."

"The Latina Rights Project is in the great tradition of the ACLU," said Ramona Ripston, executive director of the ACLU/SC. "We have always fought to make sure that everyone's civil rights and civil liberties are respected and this will be an extension of that unchanging goal."