Celebrated civil rights attorney and advocate Norman Siegel joined us for an evening exploring the state of the First Amendment and free speech in the United States.
This wide ranging discussion touched on free speech controversies on college campuses, hate speech, inciting to violence, and more.
About Norman Siegel
Norman Siegel is the former executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), New York’s leading civil rights organization, as well as a noted civil rights and civil liberties lawyer. Norman is a graduate of Brooklyn College (1965) and New York University School of Law (1968).
Norman’s law career has focused on cases dealing with voting rights, civil liberties, and civil rights. In the early 1970s, as field director of the NYCLU, he spearheaded the historic New York campaigns for both the impeachment of President Richard M. Nixon and passage of the New York State Equal Rights Amendment. From 1985 to 2000, Norman served as executive director of NYCLU. In this capacity, he was on the frontline in some of New York City’s most critical civil rights and civil liberties struggles; the creation of an independent Civilian Complaint Review Board; the successful defense of the Brooklyn Museum’s right to exhibit controversial art; the fight for citizens’ access to the steps of City Hall; the battle against involuntary hospitalization of people with mental illness; the struggle for improved community-police relations and greater accountability on the part of the NYPD. In private practice since 2002, Norman’s work in civil rights and civil liberties law continues.
Born in New York City and raised in Brooklyn, Norman graduated from NYC public schools and is committed to restoring excellence in public education. Norman and his wife, Saralee Evans live on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
