Latest news with #ACLUofNevada
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge sides with ACLU in lawsuit against CCSD over graduation stole ban
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The Clark County School District will issue updated guidance to graduating seniors and school administrators Monday after a federal judge ruled in favor of student expression in a case brought by the ACLU of Nevada. During an emergency court hearing Sunday, U.S. District Judge Richard Boulware found that two stoles, one featuring the phrase 'Black Girl Magic' on kente cloth and another representing the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Nevada's Emerging Leaders Program, were lawfully protected under the First Amendment. Both stoles had previously been denied by a school administrator. The decision prompted an agreement between the district and the ACLU requiring CCSD to notify all graduates and school leaders by 3 p.m. with clear guidance on what is permitted at graduation ceremonies. Graduates will be allowed to wear up to five stoles and may decorate their caps and gowns with flat adornments. Decorations must not be lewd, obscene, vulgar, profane, or promote violence, illegal drug use, harassment, bullying, or discrimination. If any decoration or item is found to be substantially disruptive or materially interfering with the ceremony, the graduate may be asked to remove it to participate. While certain items may still be restricted, any prohibition must be consistent with the First Amendment and state law. Pre-approval of stoles and flat cap decorations will not be required, effectively lifting previous deadlines. This new policy will apply to all high schools within the CCSD. 'It was important for us to bring this case because if we didn't, our client would have been prohibited from wearing her stole that reads 'Black Girl Magic' and those graduates in our Emerging Leaders Youth Leadership Program would have have met the same fate depending on the school they attend. It was also important for us to ensure CCSD complies with the law and school faculty and administrators do not get to be the arbiters of the First Amendment based on their own viewpoints. Consistency matters across CCSD. The First Amendment is for everyone. ACLU of Nevada will always fight to make sure that's a reality, and we are grateful to the Judge in this matter for hearing this case when he did in an emergency fashion. You only graduate high school once and this moment is a time for graduates to celebrate their cultures, not experience censorship. We are grateful to spend our Memorial Day weekend defending the First Amendment.' ACLU of Nevada Executive Director Athar Haseebullah The ACLU is urging all administrators who receive the updated guidance to ensure their staff comply, warning that any violations could lead to further litigation, including potential claims for damages. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
As NV lawmakers speed toward red light camera law, civil rights groups want to pump the brakes
Critics note the use of automated enforcement across the country has been overused and opens up the potential for sensitive data to be collected and shared. (Photo: Hugh Jackson/Nevada Current) Amid growing numbers of traffic fatalities across Nevada, state lawmakers during interim meetings last year discussed whether red light and speed cameras or enhanced infrastructure would be the best way to improve road safety. A long-awaited bill, backed by state traffic safety officials and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, to authorize traffic enforcement by automated camera was heard Monday. However, legislation to study, let alone mandate the traffic infrastructure side of the equation 'has never materialized,' Nick Shepack, Nevada state director of the Fines and Fees Center, told state lawmakers. Lawmakers agreed last year to create legislation 'on traffic safety infrastructure that creates safety on all streets and focuses on high impact areas as well as authorizes the use of safety cameras,' Shepack said. 'We are missing the first half of the bill,' he said. The three-hour hearing kicked off a robust discussion about repealing Nevada's law, adopted in 1999, banning the use of speed and red light cameras. Senate Bill 415, heard Monday by the Senate Growth and Infrastructure Committee, would allow local jurisdictions to use automated traffic enforcement, such as red light cameras, if they chose to do so. Drivers could face a $100 find for running a red light under the legislation. The bill would require jurisdictions that want to use cameras to conduct a 60-day public awareness campaign on automated traffic enforcement. For the first 30 days in use, camera-automated enforcement would only result in warnings. Andrew Bennett, the chair of Nevada Advisory Committee on Traffic Safety, presented amended language for the bill alongside Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill, the National Transportation Board, and Clark County Commissioner Michael Naft. The ACLU of Nevada, the Nevada Fines and Fees Justice Center and Clark County Public Defender's officer presented a counter presentation to the bill about the concerns of automated traffic enforcement. They noted the use of automated enforcement across the country has been overused in low-income communities and communities of color and opens up the potential for sensitive data to be collected and shared. The legislation, as heard, still comes with too many lingering questions, they told lawmakers. 'We view this as a half-baked proposal,' said Athar Haseebullah, the executive director of the ACLU of Nevada. 'This is not ready to move forward. This body routinely engages in study. We say put it to a study. If this body is so compelled, put it to a ballot question.' [/subhed] McMahill told state lawmakers Monday that while he wasn't 'a proponent of big government' it was the growing number of traffic accidents, and deaths, that changed his mind. 'I'm not a proponent, really, of traffic cameras, until the last 10 years or so,' he said. 'The bottom line is that I'm sick and tired of people dying on our roadways because of the bad behavior of other drivers.' Roughly 160 people were killed on Clark County roads last year, McMahill said. 'We're here today because 3,535 people have lost their lives in Nevada on our roadways over the last decade,' Bennett added. The growing number of deaths, he said, demanded urgency. Traffic officials previously told lawmakers during the interim session that the number of fatalities in the state from 2019 to 2022 has increased 36%. 'The National Conference for state legislators shows that 33 states currently allow the use of this technology in all or specific situations,' Bennett said, adding that automated enforcement 'saves lives.' 'I think there are certain aspects of government that we should not privatize,' Democratic state Sen. Rochelle Nguyen, chair of the Senate Growth and Infrastructure committee. 'I do have some concerns that we are privatizing our law enforcement officers in enacting legislation like this, because that's what we're doing.' The bill would enable local jurisdictions in setting up traffic cameras, though the Nevada Department of Transportation would be tasked with setting up enforcement procedural regulations. People would be mailed the citation and would have 90 days to respond. They could also contest the ticket if they weren't driving. The citations 'are not classified as moving violations and will not impact a driver's record or license,' Bennett said. Republican state Sen. Ira Hansen questioned how a $100 fee outlined in the language – a fine people wouldn't get until months after the fact – would actually prevent people from speeding or running red lights. 'I mean 100 bucks,' Hansen said. 'No demerit. No insurance notification. Because, you know, those are things when you start paying an extra 500 bucks a year, $1,000 a year … that has an impact.' Bennett said the language was to find a balance between concerns presented by groups like the Fines and Fees Justice Center. Hansen also questioned how many of the traffic fatalities last year where a driver ran a red light or was speeding stemmed from the driver being intoxicated or on drugs. Bennett said he wasn't able to get that information prior to the hearing. Since the idea of automated enforcement gained traction in Nevada, opponents have warned that some jurisdictions across the country have used red light cameras as a revenue source. An amendment to the bill Bennett presented said any additional funds collected from enforcement would be allocated to cover the cost of the program. Any additional funds after that would be used exclusively for engineering improvements in that jurisdiction, he said. The legislation also prohibits per-ticket contracts and profit sharing with the vendors. Nguyen said the bill needs more guardrails to prevent excessive fines and fees. 'That money still goes to law enforcement,' she said. 'It seems like a conflict of interest.' Sponsors also amended their original bill to add a provision prohibiting governments from sharing information with immigration enforcement agencies. Haseebullah said the provision was 'a nice gesture' but he is wary of its practical effect. 'It would require us to have information access to everything in their possession, and we don't,' he said. 'I don't know if relying on the ACLU to put in public records requests to the same bodies hiding this information or charging us sums of money in order to get this data is an effective solution.' The bill's opponents urged lawmakers to refocus on traffic infrastructure, including using items like roundabouts or changing the design of streets, to reduce accidents. 'You make the roads less wide,' Shepack said. 'You build in buffer lanes between the crosswalks and the streets. In Vegas we have a huge problem with a bus stop being in the middle of the block. It's 118 degrees and people have to run across four lanes of traffic. You can put in certain medians to deter this behavior.' Clark County Commissioner Michael Naft suggested many of those ideas have been 'implemented today in unincorporated Clark County and I would dare to say in the other jurisdictions who spoke today as well.' 'That doesn't mean the work is done,' Naft said. 'We have much more to do when it comes to infrastructure. There are billions of dollars we could spend on infrastructure to ensure everyone is safe in our community. Alternatively, we have this route, which does allow a path for some consequence, for some action to be taken when someone violates the law and for some accountability to be had.' The committee took no action on the bill.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Senate Bill 415 proposes traffic cameras to cut fatalities across Nevada
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Adding traffic cameras is a hot topic of discussion among county and state leaders. Officials met at the Nevada Legislature Monday to try and pass Senate Bill 415 which would put extra eyes on the road and hold drivers accountable. Susan Smith, lost her son, Jonny, six years ago after a speeding driver hit him and his friend on their way home from school. His friend survived, but Jonny didn't. Smith, who is now an advocate for roadway safety, spoke at Monday's Legislative session via Zoom. She said she is pleased to see the efforts being made. 'I think that it would work as a deterrent and we know that they'll slow down because they want to avoid that ticket,' Smith shared with 8 News Now. 'In the session, they said that these cameras reduce traffic fatalities by 20% to 50%. That's a lot and I feel like it could have prevented my son's death.' 'Is there value in this technology?' Sheriff wants speed, red light cameras in Clark County Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill, who was at the Nevada Legislature in Reno wanted change after seeing countless traffic-related deaths across the valley. 'I was not a proponent of traffic cameras until the last 10 years or so and the bottom line is I'm sick and tired of people dying on our roadways because of the bad behavior of other drivers,' Sheriff McMahill said. The most recent fatal crash happened overnight on Martin Luther King and Owens, Monday morning. That crash marks the 43 traffic-related fatality in Metro's jurisdiction this year. 'I received a call at 2 a.m. that another individual crossing the street on a sidewalk was killed. The driver ran a red light and was speeding,' he added. As for those opposed to the cameras, the ACLU of Nevada stated that it would jeopardize people's privacy by collecting people's data. 'There are serious civil liberty concerns associated with this bill. Where is the data going to be stored? Who has access to the data and which agencies will it be shared with,' Executive Director of the ACLU of Nevada, Athar Haseebullah said. In addition, Republican State Senator Ira Hanson shared his opinion on the matter. 'I just don't see the absolute need to have automatic red lights trying to slow down people. Obviously, with the guy who killed those seven people, he was going 105 in a 35-mile-per-hour zone. People like that will not be impacted by having red light cameras there,' he exclaimed. Another major complaint was that law enforcement was going to receive a monetary benefit for cameras being installed, but according to Sheriff McMahill, law enforcement, nor the city or county will receive any funds, but instead the money will go back into engineering. If this bill passes, there will be a public information campaign and a warning period for drivers before any tickets are sent out. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Clark County, ACLU town hall aims to inform immigrants on rights, resources
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – A 'Know Your Rights' Town Hall and resource fair will offer up information about immigration rights and help connect the public with tools and services available in Las Vegas. It will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 29 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Winchester Dondero Cultural Center at 3130 McLeod Drive near Desert Inn Road. ACLU of Nevada shares new 'Know Your Rights' materials amid federal immigration enforcement actions The resource fair will feature local organizations such as the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, the Consulate of Mexico in Las Vegas, the Consulate of El Salvador, and many others. The different organizations onsite will offer guidance, tools, and services to assist the immigrant community. The event, which will be hosted by Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom and the ACLU of Nevada, aims to provide vital information about immigration rights and connect attendees with essential resources. 'This townhall is an important opportunity to empower residents by providing them with knowledge about their rights,' Commissioner Tick Segerblom said. 'We're bringing together local resources and experts to support our immigrant communities in Clark County.' The event is open to the public and will also be transmitted online via Facebook Live through Clark County's English and Spanish social media channels. Spanish interpreters will also be available during the event. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
ACLU of Nevada shares new ‘Know Your Rights' materials amid federal immigration enforcement actions
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The ACLU of Nevada has shared new Know Your Rights materials designed to protect immigrant communities amid threats of federal immigration enforcement actions in Nevada, the organization announced Monday. The Know Your Rights materials include guides for interacting with ICE officials in workplace settings, higher education settings, K-12 schools, and while at home. The materials will be updated as laws change and the ACLU of Nevada advises people to refer to its website instead of printing the materials to make sure the most up-to-date information is available. The organization has also launched an online form on its website where possible civil rights violations by ICE, including during an ICE raid or a home visit, can be reported. The form will allow community members to share information to 'prevent systemic civil liberties violations, including racial profiling,' the organization said. 'At a time when many are facing uncertainty in our community because of a reckless federal government, we are sharing resources to help mitigate against governmental harm. Nevadans, regardless of their immigration status, should be aware of their rights in the face of an increasingly authoritarian government. We'll leave the politics to politicians but make no mistake, our out-of-control federal government, left unchecked, will seek to devalue your existence as it expands its own power for its own benefit. Nevadans should be aware of their rights under federal and state law and should consider reporting civil liberties and civil rights abuses by immigration officials to us. When the rights of the people are systemically violated, we have been and remain prepared to see the government in court,' ACLU of Nevada Executive Director Athar Haseebullah said. The ACLU of Nevada said it is continuing to monitor ICE's actions for non-compliance with the law. It is also offering Nevada-based organizations the option to request their own Know Your Rights training on a variety of issues, including training on immigrants' rights and interacting with ICE. Click here to access training materials, request a Know Your Rights training, or report an immigrant's rights violation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
