Preacherman
Member
... because one of their NM directors is a Minuteman! 
From the Las Cruces Sun (http://www.lcsun-news.com/artman/publish/article_16963.shtml):
ACLU suspends local operations
Steve Ramirez
Jun 21, 2005, 12:01 am
Operations have been suspended for the Las Cruces chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union after state ACLU officials learned that one of its board members, Clifford N. Alford of Organ, also is a leader of a Minutemen group in New Mexico.
“The suspension of the chapter was a technical move to make certain that the Minuteman claiming to be an ACLU chapter board member no longer had authority to act or speak on behalf of the ACLU,” said Gary Mitchell, president of the New Mexico ACLU board of directors. “We will not tolerate racism and vigilantism in the leadership structure of our organization. They (the Minuteman Project) are repugnant to the principles of civil liberties and the mission of the ACLU.”
Alford recently announced that he would lead a group termed the New Mexico Minutemen in patrolling the U.S.-Mexico border between Santa Teresa and Columbus. A second group, aligned with the Minuteman Project and led by a Farmington man, then said it also would begin patrols in New Mexico. The two leaders have since met and reportedly plan to work together.
Peter Simonson, executive director of the New Mexico ACLU, said the suspension was needed because of Alford’s affiliation with the Minuteman Project and the ACLU.
“We denounce both Minutemen efforts and we denounce Clifford Alford,” Simonson said. “The ACLU believes that both of the Minutemen projects are absolutely antithetical to the principles of civil liberties.”
Alford said Monday that state ACLU officials have not talked to him about his affiliation with the Minuteman Project.
“They’ve never talked to me, period, about the views of what we’re trying to do,” Alford said. “They’ve tried character assassination with me, they’ve done all kinds of crazy things.”
Alford denied that the Minuteman Project is involved with racism and vigilantism and added that it is the ACLU that is being narrow-minded.
“They’re not willing to explore what we’re about,” Alford said, referring to the Minutemen. “We’re just trying to do something that’s good for everyone.”
Alford said he has been a member of the ACLU for the past five years and a member of the Las Cruces chapter board of directors for the last three and a half years.
“I was secretary until the last meeting,” Alford said.
According to a news release from ACLU New Mexico, the state board of directors will lift the chapter’s suspension when it agrees to comply with the by-laws, policies and rules of the national ACLU.
“I’ve had lengthy discussions with key members of the southern chapter and I’m confident that we will have that group up and running again in a very short time,” Mitchell said. “Las Cruces has a large number of passionate, committed civil libertarians. The ACLU intends to work with them to protect all people’s civil liberties, regardless of their race, national origin, or immigration status.”
From the Las Cruces Sun (http://www.lcsun-news.com/artman/publish/article_16963.shtml):
ACLU suspends local operations
Steve Ramirez
Jun 21, 2005, 12:01 am
Operations have been suspended for the Las Cruces chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union after state ACLU officials learned that one of its board members, Clifford N. Alford of Organ, also is a leader of a Minutemen group in New Mexico.
“The suspension of the chapter was a technical move to make certain that the Minuteman claiming to be an ACLU chapter board member no longer had authority to act or speak on behalf of the ACLU,” said Gary Mitchell, president of the New Mexico ACLU board of directors. “We will not tolerate racism and vigilantism in the leadership structure of our organization. They (the Minuteman Project) are repugnant to the principles of civil liberties and the mission of the ACLU.”
Alford recently announced that he would lead a group termed the New Mexico Minutemen in patrolling the U.S.-Mexico border between Santa Teresa and Columbus. A second group, aligned with the Minuteman Project and led by a Farmington man, then said it also would begin patrols in New Mexico. The two leaders have since met and reportedly plan to work together.
Peter Simonson, executive director of the New Mexico ACLU, said the suspension was needed because of Alford’s affiliation with the Minuteman Project and the ACLU.
“We denounce both Minutemen efforts and we denounce Clifford Alford,” Simonson said. “The ACLU believes that both of the Minutemen projects are absolutely antithetical to the principles of civil liberties.”
Alford said Monday that state ACLU officials have not talked to him about his affiliation with the Minuteman Project.
“They’ve never talked to me, period, about the views of what we’re trying to do,” Alford said. “They’ve tried character assassination with me, they’ve done all kinds of crazy things.”
Alford denied that the Minuteman Project is involved with racism and vigilantism and added that it is the ACLU that is being narrow-minded.
“They’re not willing to explore what we’re about,” Alford said, referring to the Minutemen. “We’re just trying to do something that’s good for everyone.”
Alford said he has been a member of the ACLU for the past five years and a member of the Las Cruces chapter board of directors for the last three and a half years.
“I was secretary until the last meeting,” Alford said.
According to a news release from ACLU New Mexico, the state board of directors will lift the chapter’s suspension when it agrees to comply with the by-laws, policies and rules of the national ACLU.
“I’ve had lengthy discussions with key members of the southern chapter and I’m confident that we will have that group up and running again in a very short time,” Mitchell said. “Las Cruces has a large number of passionate, committed civil libertarians. The ACLU intends to work with them to protect all people’s civil liberties, regardless of their race, national origin, or immigration status.”
