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)

 

04/16/2012
I Am Not a Stereotype

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.

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04/22/2013
Boston Marathon Bombings

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...

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06/11/2012
Plyler v. Doe

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. 

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11/05/2008

On January 20, With the Stroke of a Pen, President Obama Can Undo Some of the Damage of the Past Eight Years

By Anthony D. Romero, ACLU at 3:26pm

(Originally posted on Huffington Post.)

President-elect Barack Obama will become chief executive of a nation that has been greatly weakened — in particular, our freedoms, our values, and our international reputation have been significantly undermined by the policies of the past eight years. Presidents have enormous power not only to set the legislative agenda, but also to establish policy by executive order, federal regulation, or simply by refocusing the efforts and emphases of the executive agencies. President-elect Obama must use all of these tools to restore our freedoms and move the country forward.

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03/28/2013
Defense of Marriage Act

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...

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06/15/2012
DREAM Act

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.
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06/25/2012
S.B. 1070 at the Supreme Court

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.

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08/27/2004

August 27, 2004

By Anthony D. Romero, ACLU at 9:30pm
Everyone in the media and NGO group looked beat today; it's been a long week. [Ed.: As Mr. Romero was dictating this, the afternoon bugle call just played in the background.] But think about it from the vantage point of the members of the military commission. They too must be tired. You have to wonder how they can sustain the energy and the
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11/29/2012
Anti-Immigrant Laws

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

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05/07/2012
Guantánamo

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.

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