JOINT LETTER: Organizations Condemn Governor Newsom’s Veto of SB 509
California Senate Building
November 6th, 202
As organizations committed to defending civil rights and democratic freedoms, we are profoundly disappointed in Governor Newsom’s veto of SB 509, a measure that would have fortified California’s ability to counter growing patterns of transnational repression (TNR) – harassment, intimidation, surveillance, or threats by foreign governments targeting individuals on U.S. soil.
If enacted, this bill would have directed the California Office of Emergency Services to develop and regularly update a training program for law enforcement that provides them with the tools necessary to identify, prevent, and respond to the intimidation of Americans by foreign governments. California is home to vulnerable diasporic communities that face a heightened risk of TNR. By vetoing SB 509, the governor missed a critical opportunity to protect Californians from foreign interference and ensure that California stands firmly against entities that weaken democratic safeguards. The decision leaves vulnerable communities without a critical tool that could have been solidified via statute, thereby leaving bad actors to continue their threats and intimidation campaigns unchecked.
The veto of SB 509 is a setback for the safety and security of all Californians. We stand together to reaffirm the foundational freedoms that everyone is entitled to, including the right to speak freely without fear of foreign interference. Californians deserve to have their voices protected from intimidation, and to have leadership that prioritizes protecting their civil rights. We call on the international community, particularly the United States, to take a strong stance against transnational repression, including ongoing attacks on human rights and free speech.
Signed:
Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund
Hindus for Human Rights
The Sikh Coalition
Amnesty International USA
South Asian Network
Uyghur Human Rights Project
Indian American Muslim Council
India Civil Watch International
Human Rights in China
Hong Kongers in San Diego
Washingtonians Supporting Hong Kong (DC4HK)
ChinaAid Association
Overseas Chinese Human Rights Lawyer Alliance
Humanitarian China
