RESOURCES

Below is a non-exhaustive list of websites for California and federal government agencies that are charged with the responsibility of enforcing statutes related to many of your protected civil rights. We have provided this listing to assist you with learning more about the protections available to you under the various laws. In addition, we include below links to various organizations that you may find interesting or useful.

Our inclusion of any such link on this page does not necessarily constitute an endorsement or recommendation of the linked agency or institution, nor is our description of the mission of that agency or institution intended to be exhaustive or comprehensive.

Government Agencies

California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (“DFEH”) (http://www.dfeh.ca.gov). Among other things, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing is charged with protecting the people of California from unlawful discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations. As part of its enforcement duties, DFEH receives and investigates employment and housing and public accommodation discrimination complaints throughout the state.

United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) (www.eeoc.gov) This federal government agency is generally responsible for enforcing federal employment anti-discrimination laws. As part of its enforcement duties, EEOC receives and investigates employment discrimination complaints throughout the nation.

Generally, an individual in California who wants to file a case involving employment discrimination must file a complaint or charge with either the DFEH or the EEOC. Information about how to file a complaint or charge is provided on the websites for these government agencies.

United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) (http://www.hud.gov) HUD's mission is to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination. The Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity within HUD administers and enforces federal laws and establishes policies that make sure all Americans have equal access to the housing of their choice.

California Department of Industrial Relations (“DIR”) (www.dir.ca.gov)
The California Department of Industrial Relations (“DIR”) was established to improve working conditions for California's wage earners, and to advance opportunities for profitable employment in California. Within the DIR, the Department of Labor Standards Enforcement (“DLSE”) (www.dir.ca.gov/dlse) adjudicates wage claims, investigates discrimination and public work complaints, and enforces California Labor Code statutes and Industrial Welfare Commission orders that, among other things, mandate that workers be provided with duty-free rest and meal periods, overtime compensation, payroll statements, and information about their rights in a conspicuous workplace location. Information about filing a complaint can be obtained on the Department’s website.

United States Department of Labor (“DOL”) (www.dol.gov)
The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster and promote the welfare of the job seekers, wage earners, and retirees in the United States by improving their working conditions, advancing their opportunities for profitable employment, protecting their retirement and health care benefits, helping employers find workers, strengthening free collective bargaining, and tracking changes in employment, prices, and other national economic measurements. In carrying out this mission, the Department administers a variety of federal labor laws including those that guarantee workers’ rights to safe and healthful working conditions; a minimum hourly wage and overtime pay; freedom from employment discrimination; unemployment insurance; and other income support.

California Department of Justice – Civil Rights Enforcement Section (http://ag.ca.gov/civilrights)
Within California’s Department of Justice a relatively new Civil Rights Enforcement Section has been established which has been dedicated to work to protect Californians from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation or disability.

United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division (www.usdoj.gov/crt)
Among other things, the Division is the program institution within the federal government responsible for enforcing federal statutes prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, sex, handicap, religion, national origin, and/or familial status. These laws prohibit discrimination in education, employment, credit, housing, public accommodations and facilities, voting, and certain federally funded and conducted programs. The Division also enforces the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act of 1980, which authorizes the Attorney General to seek relief for persons confined in public institutions where conditions exist that deprive residents of their constitutional rights; the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, the Police Misconduct Provision of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994; and Section 102 of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), as amended, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of national origin and citizenship status as well as document abuse and retaliation under the Immigration and Nationality Act. In addition, the Division prosecutes actions under several criminal civil rights statutes which were designed to preserve personal liberties and safety. The Division is responsible for coordinating the civil rights enforcement efforts of federal agencies whose programs are covered by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and assists federal agencies in identifying and removing discriminatory provision in their policies and programs.

Organizations

The descriptions of the advocacy organizations listed below are derived from the text on their websites.

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (www.aclu-sc.org) “The Constitution and Bill of Rights set the ground rules for individual liberty, which include the freedoms of speech, association and religion, freedom of the press, and the right to privacy, to equal protection of the laws and to due process of law. The ACLU was founded to defend and secure these rights and to extend them to people who have been excluded from their protection.”

CENTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS (CCR) (www.ccr-ny.org)
“CCR uses litigation proactively to advance the law in a positive direction, to guarantee the rights of those with the fewest protections and least access to legal resources. CCR stands up for the proposition that the dignity and physical integrity of all human beings is inviolable. [It] keeps tabs on government misconduct; holds corporations accountable; fights for international human rights and for racial, social, and economic justice”

EARTH RIGHTS INTERNATIONAL (www.earthrights.org)
“EarthRights International combines the power of law and the power of people in defense of human rights and the environment.”

ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION (EFF) (www.eff.org)
“EFF is a nonprofit group of passionate people — lawyers, technologists, volunteers, and visionaries — working to protect your digital rights.”

ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS ACTS (ERA) (www.eraction.org)
“Environmental Rights Action (ERA) is a Nigerian advocacy non-governmental organisation founded on January 11, 1993 to deal with environmental human rights issues in Nigeria. ERA is the Nigerian chapter of Friends of the Earth International (FoEI), the world environmental justice federation campaigning to protect the environment and to create sustainable societies. ERA is the coordinating NGO in Africa for Oilwatch International, the global South network of groups concerned about the effects of oil on the environment of people who live in oil-bearing regions.”

KOREATOWN IMMIGRANT WORKERS ALLIANCE (“KIWA”) (www.kiwa.org)
“KIWA's mission is to empower low wage immigrant workers and to develop a progressive constituency and leadership amongst low wage immigrant workers in Los Angeles that can join the struggle in solidarity with other underrepresented communities for social change and justice.”

LAMBDA LEGAL DEFENSE FUND (www.lambdalegal.org)
“Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.”

LEARNING RIGHTS LAW CENTER (www.learningrights.org)
“The Mission of Learning Rights is to ensure students have equitable access to the public education system.”

LOS ANGELES CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE (www.laclj.org)
“The Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice (“LACLJ”) provides free legal representation, education, and advocacy to low-income residents and communities of East, Northeast and Southeast Los Angeles. [It] specializes in family, housing, consumer, and government benefits law.”

NATIONAL CENTER FOR GAY AND LESBIAN RIGHTS (www.nclrights.org)
“The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the legal and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education.”

PUBLIC COUNSEL LAW CENTER (www.publiccounsel.org)
“Public Counsel is the Southern California affiliate of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Its attorneys, along with thousands of volunteer lawyers, law students and legal professionals, assist over 26,000 low income children, youth, adults and families, as well as eligible community organizations each year.”

CENTER FOR LABOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION, UCLA (www.labor.ucla.edu)
“As part of the Institute of Industrial Relations (IIR), the UCLA Center for Labor Research and Education . . . is a bridge between the university and the labor community in Southern California. As part of the university, the Labor Center serves as an important source of information about unions and workers to interested scholars and students. Through its extensive connections with unions an workers, the Labor Center also provides labor with . . . access to UCLA’s resources and programs.”

WESTERN CENTER ON LAW AND POVERTY (www.wclp.org)
“Western Center advances and enforces the rights of low-income Californians to the basic necessities of life. Through education, negotiation and litigation, WCLP works to ensure fairness and access to justice for low-income individuals.”