ACLU Sues Law Enforcement for Shielding Bush from Protestors

[Hissyspit]

Source: ACLU Press Release

ACLU Sues Law Enforcement for Shielding President Bush From Protestors (1/15/2008)

Group Calls Action Unconstitutional and Discriminatory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: [e-mail]

ALBUQUERQUE - The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of New Mexico filed a lawsuit in federal court today on behalf of several New Mexico residents and advocacy organizations who were made to stand more than 150 yards away from the site of a fundraiser being attended by the president as they peacefully protested the views of the administration, while a group of people expressing support for President Bush were allowed to stand only a few feet from the fundraiser site.

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On August 27, 2007, President Bush was in New Mexico to attend a fundraiser for Senator Pete Domenici at the home of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque Mayor Larry Abraham. In anticipation of the presidential motorcade, several individuals, including the ACLU’s clients, gathered along the street leading to the mayor’s house holding signs expressing their disapproval of the Iraq War.

According to the ACLU’s lawsuit, law enforcement officials forced the peaceful protestors to stand 150 yards away from the motorcade route, on the opposite end of the street from where the president would arrive, where they were blocked from the president’s view by a wall of parked police cars and officers on horseback. A group of people holding a banner reading “God Bless George Bush! We Pray for You!” was allowed to stand only a few feet from the fundraiser site, in plain view of the motorcade.

“Law enforcement officers gave Bush supporters front row seats and made those who disagreed with the president stand behind a wall of cars and horses,” said Peter Simonson, ACLU of New Mexico Executive Director. “Officials went to great lengths to shield the president from viewing the people who disagreed with him, which just isn’t how a free society should operate.”

Read more: http://www.aclu.org/freespeech/protest/33657prs20080115.html?s_src=RSS

[ananda]

1. Woo hoo, you go guys!

ACLU forever!

[babylonsister]

2. Kudos to ACLU, though I don't imagine they'll get far with this. nt