ACLU of West Virginia is disturbed by media reports that town officials in Richwood have circulated a list to businesses telling them not to serve alcohol to certain named residents.
If true, this could be a violation of the equal protection, due process, and privacy rights of the people named on the list. Prohibition ended with the ratification of the 21st amendment.
Business establishments are also suffering, being forced to turn away customers that can still go one town down the road and make the same purchases.
This is bad policy, and the actions documented by the media in trying to question city officials makes it clear they know as much.
We learned of the matter earlier this week when reporters asked us to comment and will be investigating more fully. Today, we sent the town of Richwood a request pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act.
Specifically, we are requesting all correspondence, data, directives, documents, videotapes, audio tapes, e-mail, text messages, faxes, files, guidance, guidelines, evaluations, instructions, messages sent on social media platforms, analyses, memoranda, agreements, notes, orders, policies, procedures, protocols, reports, rules, technical manuals, or studies relating to the matter created in the past year.
Richwood has five business days to respond/acknowledge receipt of our letter, under state and federal law.