California Considering Bill Eliminating Loyalty Oaths

The ACLU of Southern California is hosting a new petition asking Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign SB 1322, the Loyalty Oath Reform Bill of 2008, which would eliminate McCarthy-era loyalty oath requirements for state employees.

The oath has blocked an unknown number of Quakers and others averse to taking oaths, particularly oaths that imply commitment to current and future U.S. wars, from careers in public service. As the ACLU of Southern California explains in yesterday's guest blog on DailyKos:

... Cal State Fullerton faculty member, Wendy Gonaver, a Quaker and a Pacifist ... was fired this academic year because of her refusal to sign the oath which also requires swearing to "defend" the U.S. and California constitutions "against all enemies, foreign and domestic." She offered to sign the pledge if she could attach a statement expressing her views but Cal State Fullerton rejected her statement and insisted that she sign the oath if she wanted the job. She was subsequently fired for upholding her religious beliefs. "I wanted it on record that I am a pacifist," said Gonaver, 38. "I was really upset. I didn’t expect to be fired. I was so shocked that I had to do this."

If you live in California, be sure to add your name to the petition asking Governor Schwarzenegger to sign SB 1322 and support freedom of conscience in California.

Related: History of Conscientious Objection in the United States