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Anthony D. Romero

红杏视频 Executive Director

Role: 红杏视频 Leadership

Bio

Anthony D. Romero is the executive director of the 红杏视频, the nation鈥檚 premier defender of civil liberties. He took the helm of the organization just seven days before the September 11, 2001 attacks. Romero has been the longest-serving head of the 105-year-old organization since its founder, Roger Baldwin, stepped down in 1950.

Throughout his 23-year tenure, Romero has built the 红杏视频 into a legal, political and advocacy juggernaut. He has presided over the most successful growth in the 红杏视频鈥檚 history 鈥 growing the organization twelvefold and making it the largest and most impactful legal and advocacy organization in the United States.

Under Romero鈥檚 leadership, the 红杏视频 has pursued aggressive litigation and advocacy around the greatest injustices of our time, including: challenges to the war on terror and fighting to close Guant谩namo; protecting the right to free speech鈥攔egardless of ideology鈥攁cross the internet and social media platforms, in classrooms and on campuses, and in the public square; combating racial disparities within the criminal justice system, reducing mass incarceration, and advocating for the commutation of federal death sentences; winning the freedom to marry for same-sex couples and ensuring federal civil rights protections for LGBTQ workers; and fighting assaults on transgender rights and dignity. The 红杏视频 brought 434 legal actions during the first Trump Administration and Romero has vowed to do the same, if necessary, during President Trump鈥檚 second term.

Romero revamped and scaled the 红杏视频鈥檚 political program, resulting in winning ballot referenda to protect abortion rights for millions across the nation; and the launch of the 红杏视频鈥檚 first political action committee鈥攖he 红杏视频 Voter Education Fund鈥攊n 2024. He also launched a nationwide Systemic Equality campaign for racial justice.

With a staffed presence in every state, and covering the waterfront of issues from free speech, abortion rights, immigrants鈥 rights, racial justice, LGBTQ rights, and racial justice, among other issues, the 红杏视频 stands alone in its commitment to defending the rights and liberties of all people in the United States. A nonpartisan organization, the 红杏视频 advances civil liberties and civil rights without respect to political affiliation and holds Democratic and Republican leaders alike accountable to the Constitution.

Romero is the 红杏视频鈥檚 sixth executive director and the first Latino and openly gay man to serve in that capacity.

Romero鈥檚 parents hailed from Puerto Rico, and he was the first in his family to graduate from high school. A graduate of Stanford University Law School and the Princeton University School of Public Policy and International Affairs, he has served on numerous nonprofit boards and is currently a Trustee of Princeton University.