Blog of Rights

Anthony D.
Romero

Anthony D. Romero is the Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union. He took the helm just four days before the September 11, 2001 attacks. Shortly afterward, the ACLU launched its national Safe and Free campaign to protect basic freedoms during a time of crisis. Romero has led the ACLU in its fight to restore civil liberties, including pushing for accountability for torture committed under the Bush administration and fighting the practice of indefinite detention. Romero is the ACLU's sixth executive director, and the first Latino and openly gay man to serve in that capacity. (Photo by Richard Corman)

 

The Constitution Applies to All Americans, No Matter What They Are Accused Of

By Anthony D. Romero, ACLU at 12:28pm

Our country has been shaken by the events coming out of Boston in the past week. First, of course, there was the tragedy and loss of life...

The ACLU and Windsor: "The future is ours. Equality is in this country's DNA."

By Anthony D. Romero, ACLU at 10:45am

I sat in the Supreme Court yesterday hearing the historic arguments in the Windsor case. I felt a mixture of pride...

Arizona's Denial of Licenses for Immigrant Youths Won't Stop the DREAMers

By Anthony D. Romero, ACLU at 3:40pm

The ACLU and its partners today filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of young immigrants who came to the United States as children

Supreme Court Deals Blow to 3 Provisions of Arizona’s Racial Profiling Law but Allows “Show Me Your Papers” Provision to Live Another Day

By Anthony D. Romero, ACLU at 3:53pm

Today’s Supreme Court decision in Arizona v. United States rightly rejects three parts of Arizona’s controversial SB 1070 law as unconstitutional.

A Lifeline for DREAMers

By Anthony D. Romero, ACLU at 1:33pm
Today the Obama administration announced that it will stop deporting and give work permits to young adults who came to the U.S. as children, or DREAMers.

School Is For Everyone: Celebrating Plyler v. Doe

By Anthony D. Romero, ACLU at 10:11am

Jocelyn came to the United States when she was six years old, brought by a single mom who wanted her to go to school and have a better life than she did. Today, at age 14, Jocelyn is an honors student in Alabama, where she hopes to become the first in her family to graduate from high school, and to one day become a doctor. Jocelyn is striving to live the American Dream. 

The Shame of Guantánamo: A Close-Up View of Injustice

By Anthony D. Romero, ACLU at 4:21pm

As I watched the arraignment Saturday of five accused conspirators in the 9/11 attacks, I was reminded of Yogi Berra. Sadly, it was a case of déjà vu all over again.

Working to End Racial Profiling: ACLU to Testify Before Senate Judiciary

By Anthony D. Romero, ACLU at 2:24pm

Racial profiling is based on crass stereotypes and assumptions, instead of facts, evidence and good solid police work.

The Stories We Tell

By Anthony D. Romero, ACLU at 1:30pm

I recently had the opportunity to visit Florida, seeing my mother and other family members; we kicked back and talked as we hadn't had a chance to do for years.

One evening I got to thinking about one family member whom I wasn't able to see, a grandmother who has passed away and whom I still miss very much. Her life was very different from mine. Instead of college and a profession, she worked hard for many years on the Faberge factory line. My transition from elementary school in the Bronx to middle and high school in the New Jersey suburbs and eventually to Princeton University carried me into a world very different from the one where she lived. But when I would come home from school, she would say to me, "Antonio… sientate. Haz me un cuento" — "sit down, tell me a story." And it was by telling stories that my grandmother and I were able to communicate in a way that allowed us to understand and appreciate each others' lives.

Ten Years Later

By Anthony D. Romero, ACLU at 2:44pm

On September 4, 2001, my first official day on the job at the ACLU, our agenda was already full as we embarked on a new decade of defending civil liberties. Just one week later, our nation’s future—and the ACLU’s — was fundamentally altered.

As we mourned the innocent victims and honored the fallen heroes of 9/11, we were reminded that America is not only the land of the free, but also the home of the brave. On the evening of the attacks, President Bush addressed the nation and stated, “Our country is strong. Terrorist acts can shake the foundation of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America.”

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