ACLU forms official north-state chapter (California-fundraiser in Chico this Sat)

[fed-up]

http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_8790738

ACLU forms official north-state chapter

By LARRY MITCHELL - Staff Writer
Article Launched: 04/03/2008 12:00:00 AM PDT

CHICO -- Informally, the American Civil Liberties Union has existed in the north state for years, but now the organization's members are getting more serious.
They're forming an official chapter.

The Chico Chapter -- serving Butte, Glenn, Colusa, Plumas and Lassen counties -- will be launched with a party on Saturday.
Including dinner, a guest speaker, bands, dancing and a silent auction, the event starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Park Tower Pavilion at 21st Street and Park Avenue. Tickets, available at the door, are $20 general admission and $10 for students.

...
Organizers of the chapter have identified a number of areas the group might work in, he said. These include disabled rights, student issues, immigrant rights, education, government surveillance of citizens, workers' rights, hate crimes, and prison and jail terms, among others.
Trausch said he'd like to see the chapter sponsor a police review board. He said many communities have such groups, which try to ensure that actions taken by police are appropriate.
..
He said he and other organizers of the new ACLU chapter believe Americans' civil rights are threatened by national laws like the Patriot Act and local measures like Chico's "disorderly events" ordinance.
The local ordinance gives police the power to order people to leave a gathering when officers need to reach the scene of illegal activity or a medical emergency. This week the City Council modified the ordinance in response to concerns it could infringe on civil liberties.
..