Resume of Ross C. “Rocky” Anderson

Rocky Anderson is the only presidential candidate who:

• Has for many years been a world leader in combating climate change:

• Has for many years been a world leader in combating climate change:

  • Named by Business Week as one of the top 20 climate protection activists in the world. (read more here)
  • Received the EPA’s Climate Protection Award
  • Served on the Newsweek Global Environmental Leadership Advisory Board
  • Received the Sierra Club Distinguished Service Award
  • Reduced greenhouse gas emissions in city operations by over 31% while he was Mayor of Salt Lake City
  • Brought dozens of U.S. mayors together to learn about climate protection at the “Sundance Summit: A Mayors Gathering on Climate Protection” for three consecutive years
  • Received the World Leadership Award for his environmental programs while serving as Mayor
  • Received the Respect the Earth Planet Defender Award
  • Served as the only U.S. representative consulting on climate change with assistants to heads of state in preparation for the G8 Conference in 2005
  • Presented about effective climate protection actions at side meetings of three United Nations conferences on climate change (New Delhi, Buenos Aires, Bali), PowerShift ’09 (watch here); and a civil disobedience event, during which thousands of activists, organized by Bill McKibben and others, shut down a coal-burning power plant in Washington, D.C. (read more here)

 

• Has been a major anti-war and impeachment activist:

  • Referred to by Democracy Now! as “one of the most progressive mayors of any major U.S. city in recent years. During his two mayoral terms from 2000 to 2008, Anderson was an outspoken champion of LGBT rights, environmental sustainability and the antiwar movement in opposition to the Iraq War.” (read more here)
  • The only major-city mayor who advocated the impeachment of President Bush for his deceit in leading the U.S. into an illegal war of aggression against Iraq. (read more here)
  • The recipient of the Progressive Democrats of America Spine Award (which he’d like to present to them after they leave the Democratic Party!)
  • Debated Sean Hannity (watch here) and Bill O’Reilly (watch here) about impeachment and the invasion and occupation of Iraq
  • Pushed for and testified at a U.S. House Judiciary Committee Hearing on presidential abuses of power during the Bush administration (read more here or watch below)

• Has opposed the failed “war on drugs”:

  • Killed the DARE program in Salt Lake City schools after conducting research demonstrating that DARE fails to prevent substance abuse
  • Spoke out against the failure of the two major parties to honestly address the “war on drugs” at the Shadow Convention concurrent with the Democratic Convention in 2000
  • Worked while Mayor to successfully obtain a presidential pardon for a first-time drug offender
  • Represented several pretrial detainees who were denied methadone in jail while awaiting trial
  • Initiated alternatives to punishment and retribution for people who violated drug laws
  • Received The Drug Policy Alliance Richard J. Dennis Drugpeace Award

• Has fought for years to vindicate civil and human rights, including the improvement of prison conditions, implementing alternatives to incarceration, challenging police abuse, and fighting against torture and for full accountability:

  • Served as President of the Board of the Utah ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union)
  • Founded and served as President of the Board of Citizens for Penal Reform
  • Successfully represented several incarcerated (or previously incarcerated) people, or family members of deceased incarcerated people, against jail and prison officials (see Bott v. Deland, 922 P.2d 732 (Utah 1996)
  • Successfully represented several victims of excessive force by police
  • Organized and led rallies for accountability for torture (read more here)
  • Researched, wrote, produced and narrated multi-media pieces on torture and the rule of law (watch below)
  • Founded and served as Executive Director of High Road for Human Rights
  • Received the Code Pink (Salt Lake City) Pink Star honor
  • Received the Morehouse University Gandhi, King, Ikeda Award
  • Implemented several measures while Mayor to provide protections and equal rights for members of the LGBTQ community
  • Recognized by the Human Rights Campaign as one of the top ten straight advocates in the U.S. for LGBT equality
  • Received the Bill of Rights Defense Committee Patriot Award
  • Implemented perhaps the most comprehensive restorative justice program in the nation while he was Mayor of Salt Lake City
  • Successfully advocated in favor of improved treatment for mentally ill incarcerated people

  

• Has always been a major supporter of women’s rights:

  

  • Served for several years on the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood Association of Utah
  • Provided pro bono legal assistance to Planned Parenthood in successful federal court fight to obtain permit for local clinic
  • Successfully represented several women who were subjected to humiliating, invasive searches at a county jail
  • Successfully represented victims of sexual abuse by adoptive father and by prison guard
  • Adopted affirmative action program while Mayor to recruit, retain, and promote more women and ethnic minorities in city jobs

• Fought for Immigration Rights and for Equal Treatment for Ethnic Minorities:

  • Opposed the round-up and arrest by federal authorities of immigrants working at the Salt Lake City International Airport
  • Founded the Family-to-Family program to bring long-time native and immigrant families together for greater understanding and help to immigrants facing prosecution or deportation
  • Wrote and spoke at major rallies for rational, compassionate immigration reform, with a pathway for citizenship for all who have led law-abiding lives in the U.S.
  • Successfully challenged state English-only legislation
  • Dramatically increased hiring, retention, and promotion of ethnic minorities while Mayor of Salt Lake City
  • Founded, with Jon Huntsman, Sr., the Alliance for Unity, a non-partisan group of religious, ethnic, and community leaders working to build bridges between diverse people throughout Utah
  • Received the National Association of Hispanic Publications Presidential Award
  • Received the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Profile in Courage Award