From my earliest memories, police brutality and misconduct have been a part of my life. Before my 12th birthday, I witnessed two fatal police shootings that left black men dead.
Policing in this country evolved from slave patrols. It has never been a neutral institution.
As you take to the streets to demand racial justice, know your rights.
The staff at the ACLU of New Mexico are in solidarity with those marching for racial justice and demanding and end to police brutality. Black lives matter.
Over the last week, ACLU staff across the country have worked as legal observers; educated protesters about their rights; been arrested, tear-gassed and hit with rubber bullets; challenged curfews; organized town halls; talked to victims of police abuse; donated money to Black Lives Matter, local
Memorial Day weekend 2019, Dametrio Maldonado was travelling down westbound I-40 with his daughter, Ellen, on the way to volunteer at the Acoma Pueblo Annual Seed Run.