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Board member of Va. ACLU resigns in protest of group's stance on Charlottesville rally
Board member of Va. ACLU resigns in protest of group's stance on Charlottesville rally
By NED OLIVER Richmond Times-Dispatch 14 hrs ago
A board member of the Virginia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union resigned from his position over the weekend in protest of the group’s decision to file a lawsuit that kept Charlottesville authorities from relocating a white nationalist rally from a park that police said they wouldn’t be able to keep safe. ... “What’s legal and what’s right are sometimes different,” said Albermarle County resident Waldo Jaquith in a tweet. He said he still believes the organization does essential work, but “can’t facilitate Nazis murdering people.”
....
Police warned early last week that they didn’t believe they could keep the large gathering secure in the small square at Emancipation Park and said they would only grant the permit if it was moved a little more than a mile north to the much larger McIntire Park. ... Organizers called the request absurd, noting that the reason for the event was to protest the city’s plan to remove a statue of Robert E. Lee from Emancipation Park. ... The Virginia ACLU and the Rutherford Institute took up the case, arguing that officials were attempting to move the event not because of concerns about a large and violent crowd, but because they disagreed with organizers’ views. ... “The ACLU of Virginia stands for the right to free expression for all, not just those whose opinions are in the mainstream or with whom the government agrees,” said Executive Director Claire Guthrie Gastañaga in a statement. ... Meanwhile, Charlottesville City Attorney Craig S. Brown had argued “We firmly believe there is a threat of violence if it takes place in Emancipation Park. We firmly believe the same threat of violence exists if it’s moved to McIntire Park. The key to preventing violence is to keep the sides apart and it is easier to keep the sides separate at McIntire because it is bigger.”
The case was heard Friday evening in federal court, and U.S. District Court Judge Glen E. Conrad granted an injunction forcing city officials to allow the rally in the square. He said he granted the injunction because testimony indicated that rally organizer Jason Kessler could successfully prove that the city revoked his original permit based on his ideas. ... After the court victory, the ACLU called on police to handle “the expected crowds using de-escalation tactics and flexibility, and avoid (an) over-militarized response."
Late Saturday night the ACLU released a statement vowing to "continue to fight for free speech for everyone" and stand up for "respect, decency, equality and humanity for all." ... “What happened today had nothing to do with free speech. It devolved into conduct against individuals motivated by hate that was initially thuggish, and ultimately, deliberately murderous.” ... Jaquith posted a string of tweets Saturday evening after the violence unfolded explaining his decision to resign from the 32-member board, which he said he has sat on for 2 1/2 years.
....
noliver@timesdispatch.com
(804) 649-6178
Twitter: @nedoliver
The Daily Progress contributed to this story.
By NED OLIVER Richmond Times-Dispatch 14 hrs ago
A board member of the Virginia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union resigned from his position over the weekend in protest of the group’s decision to file a lawsuit that kept Charlottesville authorities from relocating a white nationalist rally from a park that police said they wouldn’t be able to keep safe. ... “What’s legal and what’s right are sometimes different,” said Albermarle County resident Waldo Jaquith in a tweet. He said he still believes the organization does essential work, but “can’t facilitate Nazis murdering people.”
....
Police warned early last week that they didn’t believe they could keep the large gathering secure in the small square at Emancipation Park and said they would only grant the permit if it was moved a little more than a mile north to the much larger McIntire Park. ... Organizers called the request absurd, noting that the reason for the event was to protest the city’s plan to remove a statue of Robert E. Lee from Emancipation Park. ... The Virginia ACLU and the Rutherford Institute took up the case, arguing that officials were attempting to move the event not because of concerns about a large and violent crowd, but because they disagreed with organizers’ views. ... “The ACLU of Virginia stands for the right to free expression for all, not just those whose opinions are in the mainstream or with whom the government agrees,” said Executive Director Claire Guthrie Gastañaga in a statement. ... Meanwhile, Charlottesville City Attorney Craig S. Brown had argued “We firmly believe there is a threat of violence if it takes place in Emancipation Park. We firmly believe the same threat of violence exists if it’s moved to McIntire Park. The key to preventing violence is to keep the sides apart and it is easier to keep the sides separate at McIntire because it is bigger.”
The case was heard Friday evening in federal court, and U.S. District Court Judge Glen E. Conrad granted an injunction forcing city officials to allow the rally in the square. He said he granted the injunction because testimony indicated that rally organizer Jason Kessler could successfully prove that the city revoked his original permit based on his ideas. ... After the court victory, the ACLU called on police to handle “the expected crowds using de-escalation tactics and flexibility, and avoid (an) over-militarized response."
Late Saturday night the ACLU released a statement vowing to "continue to fight for free speech for everyone" and stand up for "respect, decency, equality and humanity for all." ... “What happened today had nothing to do with free speech. It devolved into conduct against individuals motivated by hate that was initially thuggish, and ultimately, deliberately murderous.” ... Jaquith posted a string of tweets Saturday evening after the violence unfolded explaining his decision to resign from the 32-member board, which he said he has sat on for 2 1/2 years.
....
noliver@timesdispatch.com
(804) 649-6178
Twitter: @nedoliver
The Daily Progress contributed to this story.
https://twitter.com/waldojaquith
https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/champions/technology-and-innovation/waldo-jaquith