ACLU Commemorates Samuel Paz, Former Board Member
NEW YORK – The American Civil Liberties Union celebrates the legacy and memory of Richard Samuel Paz, known as Sam Paz, a former ACLU board member, following his passing on August 14.
“Sam Paz dedicated decades of his life to bringing justice to victims of police brutality and defending communities against anti-immigrant policies in Southern California. I remember Sam not just as a member of the ACLU board that hired me as executive director, but as a monumental force for good in defense of our rights and liberties,” said Anthony D. Romero, ACLU executive director. “We honor Sam’s legacy by never giving up the fight for justice.”
Sam Paz joined the ACLU of Southern California Board of Directors in 1978 and the ACLU National Board of Directors in 1989, serving on the board for 30 years until his retirement in 2019. During his time on the board, he worked on many legal cases in defense of people whose civil rights were violated by police. This included securing multiple million-dollar settlements with the Los Angeles Police Department.
Paz was also a strong advocate for immigrants’ rights, and a leader in the fight against Proposition 187 in California in 1994, which sought to deny public education, health care, and social service benefits to undocumented immigrants — and was ultimately ruled unconstitutional.
“Sam Paz was a local hero who had a nationwide impact on civil rights, while never forgetting his Southern California roots,” said Chandra S. Bhatnagar, executive director of the ACLU of Southern California.
The ACLU honored Paz with the ACLU Certificate of Honor in 2019 and the ACLU’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to protect the constitutional rights of all – many of whom otherwise had no avenue for justice. As an adjunct professor at the Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, and the People’s College of Law, Paz brought his life’s work to students of law across the country to continue the fight for civil rights and liberties.