Black women leaders celebrate first Black president of the ACLU

Statement by In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda President and CEO Marcela Howell

WASHINGTON — New York University Law Professor Deborah Archer was elected president of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). She is the first Black person to hold the office in the organization’s 101-year history. Marcela Howell, president and CEO of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, issued the following statement congratulating Archer:

“Congratulations to Deborah Archer on her well-deserved election to president of the ACLU. President Archer is a well-established expert on civil rights, legal scholar and seasoned legal advocate. As a Black woman, her lived experience will prove invaluable, as she takes leadership of a premier civil rights organization.

“Black women leaders fuel every movement for justice – too often without recognition or notice. In Our Own Voice praises the ACLU for promoting an eminently qualified Black woman, who has been working on its board, to a prominent leadership role. We encourage all organizations to promote more Black women experts to high-level positions.

“We look forward to collaborating with Professor Archer and wish her much success.”

###

In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda is a national-state partnership focused on lifting up the voices of Black women leaders at the national and regional levels in our fight to secure reproductive justice for all women, femmes and girls. Our eight strategic partners are Black Women for Wellness, Black Women’s Health Imperative, New Voices for Reproductive Justice, SisterLove, Inc. SisterReach, SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW, The Afiya Center and Women With A Vision.