Civil-Liberties Group Under Attack by Donors

Protesting what they see as poor leadership, dozens of supporters and former leaders of the American Civil Liberties Union are demanding the removal of the organization’s top officials, reports The New York Times.

The critics cited decisions by the charity to check staff members against lists of suspected terrorists, hinder employees’ ability to publicly criticize the union, and monitor employee e-mail messages as evidence that ACLU leaders had failed the group’s mission and therefore needed to be ousted.

The protestors called for the removal of Anthony D. Romero, executive director, and Nadine Strossen, board president.

The protest group also posted a letter signed by more than 30 prominent backers to a Web site called Save the ACLU. They emphasized, however, that they are not starting a rival organization.

A spokeswoman for the group said the organization was not in trouble.

“Our programs, both legal and legislative, have never been stronger,” she said. “And then there’s the phenomenal growth of the ACLU, where we’ve nearly doubled staff, our revenues are higher, membership and donations are higher, and that, to us, tell us where we are right now, in terms of our organization. We’re proud of it.”