Spring Break
ACLU director visits Eau Claire
Romero emphasizes fighting for justice, equality on local level
Caitlin Heidbrink
Issue date: 2/11/08 Section: News
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His speech, titled "Leadership: Stand Up for What You Believe In No Matter What the Difficulty," was presented as an overview of the injustices the ACLU has fought.
In addition, his speech, part of UW-Eau Claire's Forum series, gave listeners an understanding of what has become of civil liberties since Sept. 11 and the optimistic changes Romero sees for the nation's future.
Senior Collin Hawkins has been a member of the ACLU for 12 years and introduced Romero at the Forum. Hawkins said Romero has done an outstanding job as leader of the organization.
"It's hard to compare him to someone else because he's blazing new territory," Hawkins said.
Romero is the first openly gay and Latino man to hold this position and attended the Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton, Hawkins said. In addition, Time magazine named Romero one of the 25 most influential Hispanics in America.
One of the major points Romero made in his speech was that the ACLU does not support any political candidate, nor does it side with a particular party.
"(We have been) invariably and wrongly lumped with Democrats," Romero said. "We cannot and must never be pegged for carrying the water of any political party."
He emphasized the importance of fighting for justice and equality on a local level and that civil liberties are an issue for everyone.
"If you violate these values, you are a foe no matter what," Romero said.
He reminded the audience that the ACLU is an optimistic organization and that the nation's core values are its greatest strengths. Romero urged that as American people, we should not fear these rights.
"When decisions are made based on fear, those decisions tend to be bad ones," he said.
Romero also touched on a vast array of political and social hot topics, spanning from wiretapping, habeas corpus and voter rights.
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