The television giant supported the organization for over 50 years
LOS ANGELES - Norman Lear had a long association with the ACLU of Southern California, becoming president of the organization in 1973 and more recently serving as chair of its board of trustees.
It was during his tenure that the ACLU fought one of its most controversial cases — it argued for the right, on a free speech basis, for a group of neo-Nazis to hold a march in Skokie, Illinois, a suburban city that was home to numerous Holocaust survivors.
Please attribute the following statement to Marcus Benigno, chief communications and marketing officer of the ACLU SoCal:
“Norman became a prominent target of groups voraciously opposing the ACLU. One night, someone threw a dead pig onto his driveway and used the animal’s blood to write slurs on the front gate. It was at a time when Norman had a growing television empire, and he could have quietly backed off his role with the ACLU. But not Norman. Instead, he doubled down, actively supporting the organization with his name, funds and advocacy for nearly 50 years. Most recently, he was chair of our board of trustees, and still — as always — an outspoken advocate.”