SAN DIEGO — In response to an onslaught of human rights violations, particularly of communities of color, immigrants and unhoused community members across the United States, Alliance San Diego and allies today announced the launch of Start With Dignity, a binational campaign calling on the Biden administration to honor the dignity of human life by aligning with global human rights standards. The campaign unites us all in a movement to “start with dignity,” lighting the way forward for more inclusive laws and policies with a focus on addressing police brutality and inhumane treatment.

SAN DIEGO - July 12, 2023 — Today the California Appeals Court heard arguments in a case brought by Alliance San Diego and voters against the San Diego City Council for breaching voter trust. What is at issue is who decides an election — voters or politicians. Alliance San Diego argues that it's the former. Also at issue is whether the rules of an election as outlined to voters matter, or whether those rules can be changed post-election. The Court is anticipated to decide the case within the next 90 days.

We are disappointed by the short-sighted vote that five members of the San Diego City Council took last night to choose a ban of homeless encampments over a plan to house the unsheltered. While the City presented ideas for increasing shelter facilities and camping areas, those ideas were not accompanied by the resources needed to provide adequate, safe sleeping for unhoused community members. The fact remains that our temporary shelters are nearly full and are out of reach for thousands of people in San Diego. 

SAN DIEGO — Today, upon release of a new analysis revealing 11,636 homeless students spread across all of San Diego city council districts, Alliance San Diego calls for an evaluation of the impact of the Mayor’s homeless encampment ban on homeless students and other vulnerable groups. 

SAN DIEGO — Today, over 160 scholars and educators from the San Diego region sent a letter to San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and the San Diego City Council condemning a proposed homeless encampment ban targeting homeless community members that would leave them with nowhere to go and effectively push them out of the city. The letter was signed by scholars and educators from the region’s major colleges and universities, across multiple disciplines.

SAN DIEGO, CA - April 12, 2023 — Today, in advance of the consideration by San Diego City Council Members of a proposed encampment ban, Alliance San Diego is releasing new maps that show the impact of the ban on the unhoused community. The maps, commissioned by Alliance San Diego, and based on the proposed ban, mark the areas that the City would exclude homeless community members from sleeping and living. As indicated by the maps, the result of the proposed ban would be to almost entirely shut out unhoused people from the city. This is the epitome of cruelty and violates basic human rights. 

February 15, 2023 — Yesterday, the family of Anastasio Hernandez Rojas submitted its final arguments to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) before it decides a landmark case on law enforcement abuse and impunity in the United States. The filing follows a historic hearing before the IACHR on November 4, 2022, the first-ever hearing on excessive use of force involving the United States Government. The IACHR gave the family and the Government until February 14, 2023, to submit final observations regarding the hearing.

SAN DIEGO, CA - February 6, 2023 — Today, in advance of the State of the Union speech tomorrow, Alliance San Diego sent a letter to President Biden urging him to do more to protect our human rights so all of us can participate with dignity in an inclusive democracy. Alliance was compelled to write this letter because of tragic and ongoing violations of human rights by law enforcement in the United States. 

View IACHR Hearing in English from November 4, 2022

November 7, 2022 — On Friday, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) heard testimony from the family of Anastasio Hernández Rojas, who was a longtime San Diego resident until border agents tortured and killed him on May 28, 2010 in front of dozens of people without any consequence, leaving his family without justice. This is the first case opened against the United States for an extrajudicial killing.

October 28, 2022 — In the first case against the United States for an extrajudicial killing, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has decided to proceed with a public hearing on November 4th at 1 pm (San Diego time). The Commission’s decision comes after more than 200 organizations submitted a letter in support of an open hearing to counter the U.S. government’s objections. The case focuses on Anastasio Hernández Rojas, who was a San Diego resident for 25 years until border agents tortured and killed him in front of dozens of people without any consequence, leaving his family without justice.