[ACLU-NM] ACLU Press Conference: Lawsuit against Albuquerque Police

[Kimberly Lavender]

~ ACLU-NM PRESS ADVISORY ~



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 18, 2004



Contact:        Peter Simonson, ACLU-NM Executive Director, 266-4622



ACLU Press Conference:
Lawsuit against Albuquerque Police
for Abuse of Anti-War Protestors


ALBUQUERQUE—Volunteer attorneys for the ACLU of New Mexico and the National
Lawyers Guild will hold a press conference on the front steps of the
district courthouse in Albuquerque at 10:30 AM on Friday morning, March 19th
to announce the filing of a major civil rights lawsuit against the
Albuquerque Police Department for its handling of an anti-war protest that
took place in Albuquerque on March 19th, 2003.  Immediately before the
conference, attorneys will file the lawsuit in the Second Judicial District
Court on behalf of fourteen named plaintiffs — including two minors -- who
claim that Albuquerque police violated their free speech rights and
subjected them to false imprisonment, wrongful arrest, and excessive use of
force.  Last year, the Albuquerque Police Oversight Commission upheld
allegations against the police by several protestors.



The lawsuit coincides with the one-year anniversary of the U.S. invasion of
Iraq—an event that promises to spur further protests in Albuquerque this
weekend. It also adds to the growing number of civil rights lawsuits that
have been filed in response to a nation-wide pattern of overzealous police
response to legitimate public protest activities.



Attorneys for the ACLU-NM include Cammie Nichols, Mary Lou Boelcke, Marc
Lowry, Larry Kronen, Cindy Marrs, and David Stotz.  The lawsuit names as
defendants twelve APD officers, as well as Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez,
Department of Public Safety Chief Nick Bakas, and Chief of Police Gilbert
Gallegos.



Press Conference scheduled for Friday, March 19th ,2004 at 10:30 AM on the
front steps of the state district courthouse at 400 Lomas NW in Albuquerque.
Copies of the legal complaint will be available.  Sorry, we are unable to
answer press inquiries prior to the Friday press conference.

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