Anthony D. Romero

Executive Director, American Civil Liberties Union
Anthony D. Romero is the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

Why you should listen

The ACLU is dedicated to defending liberty and individual freedom in the US -- which is an interesting mandate to have right now. Anthony D. Romero has headed the organization since 2001 and focuses on building capacity to defend the laws that protect Americans' freedoms.

Under Romero's watch, the ACLU launched its national "Keep America Safe and Free" campaign to protect basic freedoms during a time of crisis; launched its unique legal challenge to the patents held by a private company on the human genes associated with breast and ovarian cancer; launched litigation and lobbying efforts to win the freedom to marry for same-sex couples; and filed the first lawsuit against President Trump's Muslim Ban.

Anthony D. Romero’s TED talks

More news and ideas from Anthony D. Romero

Live from TED2020

The bill has come due for the US’s legacy of racism: Week 3 of TED2020

June 4, 2020

In response to the historic moment of mourning and anger over the ongoing violence inflicted on Black communities by police in the United States, four leaders in the movement for civil rights — Dr. Phillip Atiba Goff, CEO of Center for Policing Equity; Rashad Robinson, president of Color Of Change; Dr. Bernice Albertine King, CEO […]

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Live from TED2020

Conversations on social progress: Week 3 of TED2020

June 3, 2020

For week 3 of TED2020, global leaders in technology, vulnerability research and activism gathered for urgent conversations on how to foster connection, channel energy into concrete social action and work to end systemic racism in the United States. Below, a recap of their insights. Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s digital minister for social innovation Big idea: Digital […]

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