Editor:
I was a public defender in Ventura for nearly 30 years. After I retired I became more active in the Ventura County Chapter of the Southern California ACLU (ACLU-SC). In September, 2012, I was elected to the Ventura County ACLU board. I soon became disillusioned about making any difference in my community through the local ACLU (“ACLU Angst,” Jan. 29).
Our board was comprised of professional, intelligent, concerned people. We met monthly, set up programs to inform residents about current issues, and attempted to assist people in need of help. Two examples show the lack of interest of ACLU-SC in Ventura County:
I attempted to put together a public forum about police violence in Ventura County. Two prominent local attorneys representing victims of police violence agreed to participate. I attempted to secure the presence of the ACLU-SC police violence expert. Despite multiple calls he never once responded. I was told at one time by an ACLU employee that he would appear, but that appearance was cancelled. The ACLU-SC sent two newbies who spoke about “the rights of students to education, privacy, due process, and freedom from discrimination” — nothing about police violence.
In another incident I was asked by the local newspaper to make a statement about the position of the ACLU on civilian drones. I was told that I needed ACLU-SC approval before making a public statement. No one at ACLU-SC would respond to me so I had to decline.
Perhaps ACLU professionals are reluctant to trust volunteers, regardless of their background. I believe, however, that the major problem is that the big city ACLU is uninterested in their podunk backyard. No doubt the ACLU does good for our country, but it disregards the smaller communities.
I resigned from the Ventura County ACLU in August, 2013.
Susan R. Olson, Ojai
This article appears in Living Trials.
Here in Humboldt County we are lucky to have two local groups including HumRights and the: Humboldt Civil Liberties Defense Fund who could use your donation at: http://hcldf.org/
(hcldf (dot) org)
ACLU flaws also covered by Marci in recent columns. As a member since 1980.. I ask “What has happened?”Should we supportACLLU???
ACLU—
LOCAL INFO0 ON ACLU from Marci–What has happened to the ACLU I joined in 1980????
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“No doubt the ACLU does good for our country, but it disregards the smaller communities.”
I have to disagree with the second part of that statement. I’ve lived in several small communities over the years, and in two separate locations I’ve seen the ACLU active in local issues involving racial discrimination, including one here in Eureka:
http://www.northcoastjournal.com/Blogthing…
I sit on the Ventura County ACLU and can tell you that Sue, your wrong!!!.. and sad that you would result to having to write false information!… for one When I fought against inmate postcard mail, I reached out to the ACLU Ventura chapter and although they could not help me either, did helped me form the ripple effect and our Public Defender sued and Lost! But We won in the Supreme Court! so my point is You are Not the ACLU we work as a collective body! And as for the Drones! I dont remeber seeing you at the Government Center protesting with us!!! You had no right or merit to speak on it! I didn’t either so dont feel bad my friend! The ACLU won in that case too!!!! ACLU is for all the people! I do not remeber you at any of the 5 protest on police Brutality yet or the workshops we gave as ACLU VENTURA CO. CHAPTER on any of the issues and so much more!!! You must not blame the ACLU for your self intrest! because that is not the reason they are here!!! …. Lucy!