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January 23, 2007
Letters to the Editor
The Nation


Dear Editor,

Thanks to Scott Sherman for the thorough report on ACLU's internal controversies (ACLU v. ACLU, February 5, 2007).

Despite the personality conflicts and the fine points of the debates that have swirled around the Boardroom, ACLU staff and volunteers across the country are focused on the day-to-day work of defending the values of the Bill of Rights – freedom, equality, privacy and fairness – everywhere, and for everyone during this unhappy period in our nation's history.

One important point deserves clarification: Anthony Romero's effort to strengthen the work of ACLU affiliates is no mere tactic to outmaneuver critics, as Sherman suggested.

When Romero was appointed ACLU Executive Director in 2001 he recognized the need to strengthen the work of every ACLU state affiliate – and that is precisely what he has done. He has brought increased resources to affiliates and ensured adequate staffing (including an ACLU lawyer in virtually every state) to help the organization more effectively meet the growing threats to civil liberties.

Defending freedom in America requires that – in addition to challenging the illegal policies of the Executive Branch of government – we effectively address the failure to provide basic education in Los Angeles, challenge restrictions on gay foster parenting in Arkansas, fight limits in Georgia on the right to protest government policies, challenge clever schemes to disguise the Biblical story of creation as science in Pennsylvania, resist political intrusion in cases like that of Terri Schiavo and protect voting rights in Florida.

Anthony Romero's lasting legacy will be that he helped defend constitutional freedoms by building a truly nationwide civil liberties organization.

Sincerely,
Howard Simon
Miami, FL

The writer has served as an ACLU State affiliate director for 32 years; in Michigan from 1974 - 1997, and currently Florida.
 

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