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National ACLU Director Anthony Romero to Speak at Arkansas Banquet (11/7/2006)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: media@aclu.org
ACLU of Arkansas Honors State Representative Joyce Elliott as Civil
Libertarian of the Year
LITTLE ROCK - The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas will
host national ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero at its annual banquet
here tomorrow night. State Representative Joyce Elliott will be honored at
the banquet as Civil Libertarian of the Year for her work to protect civil
rights and ensure equality for all Arkansans.
"Anthony's
work to strengthen and support small ACLU affiliates such as ours is
immeasurable," said Rita Sklar, Executive Director of the ACLU of
Arkansas. "Anthony has addressed head-on the fact that the rural states
where the small ACLU offices are often have the worst civil liberties problems
and the least resources."
Romero took the helm of the national ACLU
in September 2001, just four days before the attacks on the World Trade Center
and the Pentagon. Shortly after, the ACLU launched its national Safe and Free
campaign to protect basic freedoms during a time of crisis. Under Romero's
leadership, the ACLU gained court victories on the Patriot Act and filed
landmark litigation on the torture and abuse of detainees in U.S. custody. Most
recently, the ACLU successfully challenged the Bush administration's illegal
spying program.
Romero, an attorney with a history of
public-interest activism, has presided over the most successful membership
growth in the ACLU's 86-year history and more than doubled the budget and
national staff of the organization since he began his tenure. This unprecedented
growth has allowed the ACLU to expand its litigation, lobbying and public
education efforts, including new initiatives focused on racial justice,
religious freedom, privacy, reproductive freedom and lesbian and gay
rights.
Rep. Joyce Elliott was born in Willisville, Arkansas and
was elected to the state legislature in 2000. She earned degrees in
English and speech from Southern Arkansas University in 1973 and a graduate
degree in English from Ouachita Baptist University in 1981. She taught
high school students for 31 years, including her first two years in the state
House of Representatives, and is the current chair of the House Education
Committee. Rep. Elliott has been a consistent progressive voice during her time
in the legislature, and has championed bills to further immigrants' rights and
end discrimination against gays and lesbians. This is her last year in the House
because of the state's term limits, but she was recently named a co-chair of
Governor-elect Mike Beebe's transition team.
"Joyce was one
of the few in the Legislature dedicated to preserving civil liberties. Her
eloquent and persuasive voice, speaking up for the rights of ordinary Arkansans,
will be missed," said Sklar.
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