Catherwood LibraryILR School

A group of day laborers filed a law suit yesterday against Costa Mesa in southern California, claiming that the city's ban on seeking work on the street violates their rights. The suit is actually the most recent in a series of similar suits against California cities who have sought to limit day laborers presence on the streets. Advocates, some from the American Civil Liberties Union, say that it is not right to let activists protest in the street and bar workers from being in the same areas. The city passed the ordinance several years ago after complaints were made about people making noise and loitering. In September, about a dozen day laborers were arrested by plainclothes cops, prompting a backlash from the workers, and yesterday's protest march, which involved about 30 day laborers. Approximately 12 similar law suits have been filed recently, and all but one, which remains pending, have been won by the workers.