Civil Rights

Romancing the West

Huntington Beach Central Library

Jessica Karp, UCI Adjunct Professor, Seeks to Expose ICE's "Secret" Meetings with Gov. Brown

The American public must be let in on what's going on behind closed doors regarding the federal government's attempts to preserve the full force of its controversial Secure Communities immigration enforcement program, a UC Irvine law professor argues."There's a public right to know about issues surr ... More >>

[UPDATED with Jury Rules FOR Douglas Zerby Family:] Long Beach Police Officers Negligent

See the update at the end of this post about the jury ruling for the dead man's family.ORIGINAL POST, APRIL 3, 2:13 P.M.: A $21.5 million civil rights and wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Long Beach over cops fatally shooting a guy holding a gardening water nozzle on a friend's Belmont Sho ... More >>

Manuel Diaz Shooting: Case Closed?

Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait met with representatives from the United States Attorney's Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation last summer regarding the incidents of July 21, 2012. Now that the Orange County District Attorney's office has completed and released its investigative letter clearing An ... More >>

Lawyer: Anaheim Residents Are More Afraid of Police Than Gangsters; Demands City Release Evidence in Cop Killing of Manuel Diaz

Worried the City of Anaheim and local prosecutors are acting in collusion to protect a cop who fatally shot an unarmed Latino man in the back of head in July, lawyers for the estate of Manuel Diaz are hoping a federal judge on Monday will order the government to stop delaying document discovery in a ... More >>

Words of Protest, Words of Freedom: Can't Find What You Can't (Won't) Read? Live Among the Dead!

This week offered Mr. Bib a walk down Memory Lane, if perhaps other people's memories, and the opportunity to recall Claire Spark's observation that a long memory is indeed the most radical idea in American history. Or maybe even a short one. Encouraged by a comment from a reader suggesting that the ... More >>

[UPDATED with More Delegates Join Revolt:] Is a GOP Goon Squad Intimidating Ron Paul Delegates into Voting Romney at Convention?

See update at end of this post about 40 more national convention delegates seeking to join the 123 who have filed suit and "hundreds more" possibly ready to do the same. ORIGINAL POST, JUNE 13, 12:39 P.M.: The Republican National Committee (RNC) is using violence, intimidation and ballot stuffing t ... More >>

Welcome Back, Jim Crow

[Crossing the Line] New laws in dozens of states could take out Barack Obama this fall

Valerie Plame Comes Out of the Cold to UCI Law

​Valerie Plame, whose career as an undercover for the CIA ended when the Bush White House blew her cover in 2003, comes to the UC Irvine School of Law Feb. 17 to give a free talk about her experiences.Now going by Valerie Elise Plame Wilson, to reflect her marriage to former Ambassador Joseph C. W ... More >>

Sunday OC News Notes: Was DA Tony Rackauckas "Pathetic" in Pursuit of an Accused Serial Killer?

Recent highlights in Orange County news from various media outlets or blogs:​TheLiberalOC discusses the long reach of its bombshell story on state Assembly candidate Michele Martinez's controversial train conversation related to a California Indian tribe and campaign support.OCPoliticsBlog calls D ... More >>

[UPDATED with Kobe's Appeal of Fine:] Bryant Scolded for Yelling "Fucking Faggot" at Ref

​UPDATE, APRIL 14, 8:01 P.M: After last night's likely forever finale for the Sacramento Kings/preview for the Anaheim Royals, Kobe Bryant was contrite. Black Mamba told KCAL/Channel 9's John Ireland that the NBA's $100,000 fine for calling a referee "Fucking faggot" the night before was ... More >>

[UPDATED] Irvine 11 Charged With Misdemeanors, Face Jail, Probation, Community Service if Convicted

Photos by Christopher Victorio/OC WeeklySeven of the Irvine 11​UPDATE, MARCH 11, 4:08 P.M.: The arraignment of the Irvine 11 was continued this morning until April 15 so the court can consider defense motions to seal grand jury documents, remove the Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) from the ... More >>

Gay Rights Groups Again Link Carly Fiorina to Latino Outreach Bus That Breezed Through OC

​We began Monday morning by noting the "Vota Tus Valores" ("Vote your values") bus filled with conservative Hispanics and marriage inequality proponents was in Santa Ana, following up with the news that a demonstrator against the Latino outreach effort there claimed he had been roughed up by someo ... More >>

Five Reasons Why Orange County Should Thank Mexico Today

​Today, as Orange County Register readers know too well, is the official marking of Mexico's bicentennial. SanTana will become one massive fiesta this weekend, although the elites marked their own celebration last evening at the Bowers Museum. With all the arribas in the air, what better time to d ... More >>

Get Farmer's Tan, Head to OC Film Fiesta

Farmer's Tan​The local film scene heats up this weekend with the San Clemente screening of a film about an Orange County high school student facing shame for taking his farmer's tan to school and the Santa Ana continuation of the OC Film Fiesta.

Much-Awaited Appellate Decision on Medical Marijuana Dispensary Bans is a Non-Decision

​Orange County cities and medical-marijuana dispensaries had been eagerly awaiting a decision from the California 4th District Court of Appeal on the constitutionality of municipal bans on cannabis clinics.That decision is now in . . . . . . and it's pretty much a non-decision.

[UPDATED:] Josh Booty Settles Suit Against County Over Tasering by Sheriff's Deputies

​Former NFL quarterback and sports broadcaster Josh Booty claimed that when he was in the Orange County Jail after a February 2008 DUI arrest, he was beaten, tasered and ridiculed with comments like "big pussy motherfucker" and "the price is wrong, bitch"--a reference to his ex-wife, a former The ... More >>

Prop 8 Argued in Law & Order Court, Paddy's Pub (of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia)

​The legal war over Prop 8 is still fresh fodder for Sunday news snore fests, daily chat spat shows and late night laugh offs, so it was only a matter of time before California's controversial gay marriage initiative filtered its way into scripted television programming.But the two shows that will ... More >>

UPDATED: Wheelchair-Bound Fan Sues Angels and Anaheim for Discrimination

​Originally posted 2:45, June 15. Updated 4:59 p.m. with non-comment comments from the city and the Angels. See bottom of post. J. Paul Charlebois says that he wanted to watch a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim game from the Anaheim stadium's club level, which is the swanky tier with box seats ... More >>

Wax On, Wax Off: MLK Weekend

Black Surfing AssociationWith the weekend of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday fast approaching, it seems fitting to give some attention to a serious weak spot in surfing's usually laid back, tolerant facade. Good waves and winter sunshine have been hitting Orange County's beaches for t ... More >>

Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Concert

Barclay Theatre

Resurrected, Boisterous OC Pride Festival "a Smashing Success"

Photo by Christopher VictorioPark rangers talk with OC Pride participants about the noise at Mason Regional Park in Irvine on Saturday.​The crowd was small but boisterous, there was a minor issue with the noise and some participants did not know at first that the showy police presence was for thei ... More >>

LGBT Groups Seek to Intervene in Prop. 8 Challenge

This just in from the ACLU, which believes the action taken today will help a judge hearing a challenge of Prop. 8 understand the unequal rights inherent in the ballot initiative . . . SAN FRANCISCO -- Lambda Legal, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and the American Civil Liberties Union ... More >>

Lt. Dan Choi on KPFK-FM 90.7 at 4:20 p.m. TODAY

Sorry for the late notice, but you can hear Army Lt. Dan Choi, who's recently made headlines for challenging the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy," today at 4:20 p.m. on KPFK-FM 90.7, online at www.kpfk.org. It's a pre-recorded segment, and one where you immediately get the warmth of the man ... More >>

Is the DA's Office Losing the Battle for an Orange Gang Injunction?

Agapito MoralesSantiago Orange Growers Association, North Cypress Street, Orange, ca. 1950Senior Assistant DA John Anderson sat in the juror section of Superior Court Judge Kazuharo Makino's courtroom this morning with pursed lips. He listened closely to what Makino was going to say -- and how he wo ... More >>

FBI Spying on Mosques Draws Senate Attention; Rights Workshop Helps Local Muslims Deal With the Feds

A Senate Judiciary Committee questioned FBI Director Robert Mueller Wednesday about a Muslim coalition's consideration of breaking ties with the bureau following the highly publicized federal government spying on an Irvine mosque.Meanwhile, a workshop has been organized for this Sunday to help local ... More >>

Muslim Groups Consider Breaking FBI Ties Over Irvine Case

Citing the highly publicized case involving an undercover informant who spied on an Irvine mosque, a coalition of U.S. Muslim organizations has announced it may suspend relations with the FBI."Muslim communities throughout the United States have made significant advances in promoting and contributin ... More >>

Manzanar Pilgrimage Exhibit

Soka University

We Can Do It!

Ladies of Lincoln's Era

Rev. Rick Warren Loves Gay People

He loves them so much that he offers them doughnuts and water! See, he's not a bad guy just because he wants to deny these loving, committed couples their equal rights. Listen to his heartfelt explanation to Ann Curry about why doughnuts water = not homophobic, during their interview set to air on ... More >>

When Anaheim Mayors First Hung with the Mexicans

I had the pleasure of meeting former Anaheim mayor Bill Thom a couple of times at meetings of Los Amigos, the longtime Latino civil rights group he helped found in 1978. He always occupied a table near the front, a seat of honor unconsciously granted by other Los Amigos members for the gabacho polit ... More >>

Janet Napolitano's Sorry Service in Arizona Makes Her a Terrible Choice for Homeland Security Secretary

WEB EXCLUSIVE!

Eviction Blues

Homeless musician vows crusade against landlords

Special Screenings

Movie of the Week: The U.S. vs. John Lennon

The Knightly News

George Clooney tips his hat to Edward R. Murrow

Who Dunn It?

Activists call on Garden Grove legislator to broaden spying probe

So Long to an American Original

Stalled by anti-gay marriage laws, performance artist Tim Miller heads for the U.K.

Anaheim Spooks

Report shows police spied on activists who complained about cops

Party Pooper

America: Leave It to Love

Tim Miller on gay marriage, the Knight Initiative and the love of his life

Rebel Yell

Zapatista struggle enlivens life in el Norte