Dear Friend,

When it comes to defending freedom of speech and freedom of religion, the ACLU has never shied from controversy.

But having to battle the legacy of McCarthy-era Communist scare tactics is SO last century.   

Did you know that California law still contains language that permits discrimination against individuals associated with the Communist Party? Who cares, you ask?  We do.

Not only do these provisions still exist, but another provision, also added at the height of McCarthy’s Red Scare - the loyalty oath that remains a requirement for public employment - has been used recently to discriminate against individuals because of their religious beliefs. 

You may have seen stories in the news about Quakers who were denied jobs because they refused to pledge to "defend" the country from "all enemies foreign and domestic.” It’s time that these stories became history.

Please send a message to Gov. Schwarzenegger encouraging him to sign SB 1322 (Lowenthal, D-Long Beach), which would remove language from California law permitting discrimination against individuals associated with the Communist Party, and provide a religious exemption to the loyalty oath. 

SB 1322 will help to ensure that McCarthy-era abuses of government power do not stand in the way of putting our highest principles into practice today. 

Please join me in expressing to the governor that now is a prime time to protect freedom of thought and belief.

Sincerely,


Maya Harris
Executive Director

P.S. You may visit our Web site to find out more about the civil liberties legislation the ACLU is working on in Sacramento.

ACLU of Northern California | 39 Drumm Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
T (main): 415.621.2493 | T (civil liberties counselor): 415.621.2488 | F: 415.255.1478

Click here to view our privacy policy.
If you received this message from a friend, sign up for ACLU-NC's list here.
You may unsubscribe from our mailing list at any time.