Thread: ACLU comes to Laredo ; Only second border chapter

ACLU comes to Laredo ; Only second border chapter
By JULIAN AGUILAR, LAREDO MORNING TIMES
05/06/2007

The American Civil Liberties Union is beginning a chapter in Laredo. Martí Garza, associate director of the ACLU of Texas, said the organization will hold its first meeting Wednesday at the Pelican’s Wharf restaurant, 619 Chicago St., at 6:30 p.m.

Garza said the Laredo chapter will be the only one in Texas south of San Antonio and the second in a border city in the state. The ACLU also has a chapter in El Paso.

Garza said he has heard a lot of positive feedback from the south Texas community about bringing the organization to Laredo.

“We are very excited,” he said from his Austin office Wednesday. “We are going to diversify who we are as an organization. There are good folks in Laredo that are interested in us ramping up our presence.”

Garza said that Laredo is a prime spot for a new chapter because of its proximity to Mexico and the issues that are specific to border communities, including homeland security and immigrants’ rights.

Local attorney David Almaraz, a member of the ACLU since 1992, said Laredo is in need of an ACLU chapter because of the massive presence of law enforcement agencies in the city.

“Because we are on the border, we are susceptible to over-zealous law enforcement,” he said. “I believe bringing a local chapter will do a lot to inform the general public about their liberties.”

Almaraz said the ACLU is often depicted as a liberal organization, but stressed that its members include liberals and conservatives, as well as Democrats, Republicans and independents.

“All the ACLU says is as long as we are a free society, we have to uphold the Bill of Rights,” he said.

(To reach Julian Aguilar, call 728-2547 or e-mail jaguilar@lmtonline.com)

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?news ... 9392&rfi=6

Because we are on the border, we are susceptible to over-zealous law enforcement,”

What exactly is "over-zealous" law enforcement anyway? When is the ACLU going to print up a manual so the rest of the citizens have a clue as to what we don't have to obey? The way they talk I shouldn't have to prove anything, give my SS# or have an ID or prove anything. Please....clue me in.