Annapolis Alderman Carl O. Snowden will be honored tonight by the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland for his civil rights leadership.
Mr. Snowden, a Democrat who represents the city's 5th Ward, will be presented with this year's Civil Liberties Award for his aggressive work in championing racial equality and civil rights throughout Maryland.
He worked closely this year with the legal staff of the American Civil Liberties Union to appeal a court ruling that overturned Annapolis law denying liquor licenses to private clubs that discriminate. Mr. Snowden had ushered the bill in two years earlier and fought for his passage, but a Circuit Court judge struck it down. No decision has been reached yet on the appeal.
Mr. Snowden, who has been in office for two terms, also helped residents of run-down apartment complexes in the city go on rent strikes until conditions were improved.
The award has previously been given to former Rep. Parren Mitchell, the state's first black congressman, who fought to open up the University of Maryland to minorities, and former U.S. Sen. Charles McC. Mathias.