Civil Rights News: Arizona Law Aims to Disenfranchise Voters; ACLU Fights for LGBT Rights in California Schools; Rand Paul Signals a Republican Shift on Immigration Reform

Compiled by Emily Van Dusen, a Spring 2013 intern at The Leadership Conference Education Fund

Arizona voting law disenfranchises citizens
Editorial
LA Times

On Monday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Arizona v. ITCA case, which questioned the validity of an Arizona law requiring voters to prove citizenship beyond what is required under a federal voter registration law. According to The Los Angeles Times, the additional documents required by Arizona are less about preventing virtually non-existent voter fraud and more about preventing qualified voters from exercising their vote. The editorial board notes:

“As the Obama administration points out in a friend-of-the-court brief, Congress considered — and ultimately rejected — language allowing states to require “documentary evidence of the citizenship of an applicant for voter registration.” Arizona didn’t respect that decision, but the court should.”

School district discriminated against gay students, ACLU alleges – latimes.com
By Howard Blume and Stephen Ceasar
LA Times

The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California is currently taking action against Hesperia Unified School District in San Bernardino County, CA, due to the district’s discriminatory actions towards gay and lesbian students. Students report that announcements pertaining to Sultana High School’s Gay-Straight Alliance are being censored, bullying based on sexual orientation is not being properly addressed, and students wishing to wear gender non-conforming clothing to the prom will not be allowed to attend with their classmates. The ACLU states that such actions violate students’ first amendment rights to expression, among others, and urges the district to change their policies.

The ACLU sent the school district a letter on Monday detailing plans of their legal action, in the hopes that changes can be made before litigation.

G.O.P. Opposition to Immigration Law Is Falling Away – NYTimes.com
By Ashley Parker and Michael D. Shear
NY Times

The debate in Congress over immigration reform continues to take shape following Senator Rand Paul’s (R-Ky.)  address on Tuesday highlighting a more welcoming approach than the one previously championed by his party. In his remarks, Paul stressed the importance of border security as the primary priority, but also, according to The New York Times, “strongly implied that citizenship would eventually be available.” The Republican party, in need of support from Hispanic voters after their decisive voice in the 2012 election, seems to be moving toward compromise with Democrats in order to produce legislation this spring.