ACLU Double Standards - Double Cross

NATIONAL LATINO OFFICERS ASSOCIATION

PO Box 02-0120, Brooklyn, New York 11201

(866) 579-5809

Press Release         

November 27, 2008

ACLU Double Standards

Double-cross

The ACLU, the premier organization that defends the inalienable rights of people that are guaranteed in the Constitution of the United States, has one standard for their members and another for everyone else. The ACLU has negligently chosen to ignore complaints about the operations, practices and retaliation of the Florida State ACLU against the Central Florida Chapter of ACLU.

The Florida ACLU has chosen to retaliate and discriminate against its most diverse board in the State of Florida. The Florida State ACLU is attempting to silence and dismantle the Central Florida Board for their outspokenness. The Central Florida Chapter has aggressively addressed issues of the poor and working class community. The Central Florida Chapter of the ACLU is the most inclusive of minorities. They have advanced the mission of the ACLU by educating and assisting Central Florida residents. The Chapter has advocated for Florida residents that are unable to defend themselves from constitutional violations. The issues that the Central Florida Chapter has addressed have brought on attacks from the Florida State ACLU while bringing success to the ACLU Organization. This exhibits two standards -- one for us and another for them.

The ACLU condoned the sanctioning of the Central Florida Board collectively because the Board President wore an ACLU T-shirt to a press conference supporting taxi cab drivers of Florida. The Florida State ACLU imposed regulations and mandates on what apparel Central Florida Board members could wear when they are acting in their own individual capacity outside of the ACLU. The Florida ACLU wants to restrict individual activity of Board members based on their titles representing the ACLU. The Florida ACLU also wants to mandate that every representative of the Central Florida Chapter, when ever they are participating in or just present at any activity, to declare their identity and appearance as either ACLU or not. This exhibits two standards -- one for us and another for them.

The ACLU believes in freedom of the press and has won cases eliminating restrictions placed on the individual's right to speak openly to the press. The ACLU also focused on protecting the right of individuals to disclose or address issues of public concern directly to the media. The Florida State ACLU has chosen to deny, restrict and penalize its own Central Florida Chapter members from exercising those same rights. This exhibits two standards -- one for us and another for them.

The ACLU, one of the strongest advocates for the right of people to obtain legal council and representation, allowed the Florida State ACLU to deny these basic protections to the Board members of the Central Florida Chapter of the ACLU. This exhibits two standards -- one for us and another for them.

The ACLU protects and advances the integrity of the electoral process. The ACLU advocates for protecting the people's rights and the representation of its duly elected officials. The ACLU protects against unfair or illegal practices that cause or result in the constructive discharge, unwarranted removal or receivership of duly20elected representatives. An oppressive Florida State ACLU Board is trying to remove and undermine a duly elected Central Florida Board. The Florida State ACLU has retaliated against the Central Florida Board members seeking the extreme actions of placing the Florida Central Chapter ACLU into receivership. This exhibits two standards -- one for us and another for them.

On the heel of the ACLU winning a landmark victory on a case initiated and pursued for over two years by the Central Florida ACLU Chapter, the actions of the Florida State ACLU are even more alarming. Federal Court Justice Presnell of Florida's Middle District recently ruled in favor of a free speech protection. In essence this ruling states that food is a right not a privilege over turning an Orlando ordinance that restricted the ability to feed the homeless in a public park. This case also had other significant gains and reaffirmations of issues already won by the ACLU.

In the future, when the ACLU or its State representatives attempt to defend or uphold constitutional rights, your motivations will always be questioned. While we still hope the ACLU can resolve these issues amicable, the NLOA pledges to continue to support the Central Florida Chapter Board members who want to continue defending the Constitution of the United States of America.

For more information contact (866) 579-5809.