"From Mississippi"

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October 25, 2006

Voices for the ACLU:

Because I find the attacks on the current ACLU leadership particularly distressing, I needed to write to Voices for the ACLU to express my support for the leadership of Anthony Romero. He has been such a great mentor and role model to me in my short time as Executive Director of the Mississippi ACLU. The way Anthony has taken a special interest in our program means so much to me because organizing to protect and further civil liberties in Mississippi is a very tough undertaking.

I’ve studied Anthony’s work and management styles for the past few years and I’ve really admired the way that he can speak on any ACLU topic with confidence and poise although he doesn’t work directly on specific litigation or legislation each day. It’s amazing how he keeps up with the work of the hundreds of ACLU staff. He has surrounded himself with capable, skilled professionals who have the best interests of the organization at heart. Although, I manage a mere staff of five, I have truly learned a lot from Anthony and I really “want to be like him when I grow up”.

I also really appreciate the fact that the Mississippi affiliate was selected for participation in the Strategic Investment Project. It is a great comfort to know that the national organization cares so much about the smaller affiliates and that is evidenced in the amount that our annual subsidy has increased during his tenure. The 25 smallest affiliates have had annual subsides that have gone from $65,000 in 2001 to $165,000 in 2006. Had small affiliates not been such a high priority on Anthony’s agenda I sincerely doubt that 16 of us would have hired attorneys for the fist time in our existence. I think that it’s wonderful that Anthony recognizes that at the end of the day, the battle has to be fought locally and that having strong ACLU’s in Alaska, Mississippi and Kentucky, means having a strong ACLU nationally.

Finally, the way that Anthony has pushed issues concerning communities of color to the forefront of ACLU work is exceptional. For instance, after Hurricane Katrina devastated Louisiana and Mississippi in 2005, Anthony didn’t hesitate to issue a national ACLU statement and to provide resources that supported work in affected communities, even after many questioned whether Katrina involved civil liberties issues at all. The prominent work of the ACLU on the successful extension of the Voting Rights Act and on criminal justice issues also keeps us at the table in the civil rights community locally and nationally.

Simply put, Anthony Romero is a hero to me. I look forward to many more years of progressive work together!!

Yours In Struggle,

Nsombi Lambright

 

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