Ramona Ripston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ramona Ripston
|
|
|---|---|
| Executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California | |
| In office 1972–2011 |
|
| Succeeded by | Hector O. Villagra |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 18, 1927 Queens, New York, U.S. |
| Died | November 3, 2018 (aged 91) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Ramona Ann Ripston (born February 18, 1927 – died November 3, 2018) was an important leader in the world of civil rights. She served as the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California (ACLU SoCal) for a long time, from 1972 to 2011. During her 38 years leading the ACLU SoCal, Ramona Ripston helped make many big changes to protect people's rights in the region.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ramona Ripston was born on February 18, 1927, in Queens, New York. Her parents were William and Elsie Fleischman. She went to Hunter College and graduated in 1948. She earned a degree in political science, which is the study of how governments work.
Her Work for Civil Rights
Ramona Ripston dedicated her life to protecting civil liberties. These are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person.
Starting Her Career
Before joining the ACLU in Southern California, Ripston worked for other important groups. She was the public relations director for the New York Civil Liberties Union. Later, in 1965, she worked for the National Emergency Civil Liberties Committee. These roles helped her gain experience in fighting for people's rights.
Leading the ACLU SoCal
In 1972, Ramona Ripston became the director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California. This was a big step because she was the first woman to lead an ACLU office. She was also one of the few leaders who was not a lawyer.
When she started, ACLU SoCal was a small organization. It had only six employees and its board of directors was made up only of men. Ramona Ripston worked hard to make the organization bigger and more diverse. She brought in more women, people of color, and members of the LGBT community to join the board.
By the time she retired in 2011, the ACLU SoCal had grown a lot. It had 50 employees working in two different offices. This growth showed how much she helped the organization expand its work and reach more people.
Personal Life
Ramona Ripston was married to federal judge Stephen Reinhardt. She passed away in Marina del Rey, California, on November 3, 2018.
