News & Commentary

DEMING, NM--Today, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico announced that it is representing a group from the Deming Pride organization who allege that employees at a Denny's restaurant in Deming, NM refused them service, called them homophobic slurs, and asked them to leave the premises. The ACLU of New Mexico sent a demand letter to the restaurant, asking the owner to issue an an apology and make a donation.

ACLU alleges that Interstate Stream Commission attempted to bully concerned citizen into silence

 

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—Today, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico responded to the news that the Albuquerque District Attorney’s Office will charge Albuquerque Police Department (APD) officer Dominique Perez and former APD officer Keith Sandy with murder for the March, 2014 shooting of homeless camper James Boyd. The following quote may be attributed to ACLU of New Mexico Executive Director Peter Simonson:

By Micah McCoy, Communications Director

###   The ACLU of New Mexico Regional Center for Border Rights stands with border communities to defend and protect America’s constitutional guarantees of equality and justice for all families to live freely, safely and with dignity.

WHAT: Candlelight vigil protesting the ongoing use of family detention in the United States WHEN: Thursday, November 20 – 6 p.m. WHERE: Outside the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia, NM, 1300 W. Richey Ave., Artesia, NM WHO: ACLU-NM Regional Center for Border Rights, Somos un Pueblo Unido, the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops,  and the American Immigration Lawyers Association.   ### The ACLU of New Mexico Regional Center for Border Rights advocates at the local, state, regional, and national levels for policies that protect the rights of people along the border.

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SILVER CITY, NM– PETER CHASE an Albuquerqueresident, has been selected as the winner in the Southwestern Chapter of the ACLU-NM’s Annual Singer/Songwriter Competition.  He has performed at, Jamm Music Fest in Jemez Springs, Glenwoodstock and Soccorofest.  In 2008 he took third place in the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival Songwriting Competition, and in 2010, won Honorable Mention from the same festival.   His latest CD, "Special Deluxe," is his twelfth collection of original songs.  Peter was one of three finalists in the 2012 and 2013 competition, and has been selected to for his submission Attica, a lament on the horrific nature of prisons, this year’s theme.   This is the fifth consecutive year that the Southwestern Chapter of ACLU-NM has sponsored a competition for singer/songwriters on a topic of Constitutional Rights as part of their Annual Meeting.  This year’s competition began with performers fromNew Mexico, Southern Arizona, andWest Texas being invited to submit entries.  Peter Chase will be performing his winning entry, as well as his entries from previous years’ competitions at the Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Chapter of the ACLU of New Mexico. The Southwestern Chapter of the ACLU of New Mexico incorporates the counties of Grant, Catron, Luna, andHidalgo. Their Annual Meeting, open to all members and the public, will be held on Friday, October 24, 2014 at the Woman’s Club inSilverCity.  The event, beginning at 6:00 PM, will include addresses by knowledgeable speakers on the subject of Prisons and Incarceration; as well as the performance by Peter Chase. MATTHEW ELWELL – The Director of theLunaCountyDetentionCenter, and the former Operations Administrator at theBernalilloCountyMetropolitanDetentionCenter.   Mr. Elwell will be discussing State and Local policies and initiatives forDetentionCentersand Prisons, as well as some of the issues being faced by them. PETER OSSORIO – An ACLU-NM Board Member fromLas Cruces, an Attorney, and a former Federal Prosecutor has a unique perspective on the topic, having been a jailer prior to becoming a lawyer.  Mr. Ossorio will discuss the increasing dependence on incarceration in the State and Nation.  He will also touch on the topics of jails being used to house the mentally ill, imprisonment for Marijuana possession, and profusion of For-Profit Private Prisons. The Doors will open at the Woman’s Club located at1715 Silver Heights Blvd(HWY 180) inSilverCityat 6:00 PM, and the program will begin at 6:30 PM.  Light refreshments, good music, good conversation will be available for free.