Norman Siegel
Encyclopedia
Norman Siegel was the director of the New York Civil Liberties Union
(NYCLU), New York
's leading civil rights
organization, under the umbrella of the nationwide American Civil Liberties Union
(ACLU). Siegel served as director from 1985 until 2000.
Siegel attended Brooklyn College
and NYU Law School
with Rudy Giuliani
, who later became mayor of New York City
and NYCLU's frequent courtroom opponent.
Since ending his work at the NYCLU, Siegel entered private practice and has represented various activist groups including RodStarz and G1 of Rebel Diaz
, Critical Mass
, residents fighting the expansion of Columbia University
and families against the Rudy Giuliani's 2008 campaign for President of the United States. He also frequently wrote op-ed
columns at major New York City newspapers, such as the New York Times, Newsday
, the New York Daily News
, and the Amsterdam News. Siegel has taught a class at New Utrecht High School
in Brooklyn, New York and has served on the boards of many foundations.
In 2001, Siegel ran for New York City Public Advocate and lost to Betsy Gotbaum
in a runoff. In 2005, he ran again, but was likewise unsuccessful. He was again a candidate in the 2009 election
, losing in the Democratic primary to Bill de Blasio. In 2010, Siegel negotiated a settlement with New York City, ensuring that online journalists would receive access to official press credentials.
New York Civil Liberties Union
The New York Civil Liberties Union is an civil rights organization in the United States. Founded in 1951 as the New York affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, it is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization with nearly 50,000 members across New York State.NYCLU's stated mission is to...
(NYCLU), New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's leading civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
organization, under the umbrella of the nationwide American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
(ACLU). Siegel served as director from 1985 until 2000.
Siegel attended Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
and NYU Law School
New York University School of Law
The New York University School of Law is the law school of New York University. Established in 1835, the school offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in law, and is located in Greenwich Village, in the New York City borough of Manhattan....
with Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
, who later became mayor of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and NYCLU's frequent courtroom opponent.
Since ending his work at the NYCLU, Siegel entered private practice and has represented various activist groups including RodStarz and G1 of Rebel Diaz
Rebel Diaz
Rebel Diaz is a political hip hop duo out of the Bronx, New York and Chicago, IL consisting of the Chilean brothers Rodrigo Venegas and Gonzalo Venegas...
, Critical Mass
Critical Mass
Critical Mass is a cycling event typically held on the last Friday of every month in over 300 cities around the world. The ride was originally founded in 1992 in San Francisco. The purpose of Critical Mass is not usually formalized beyond the direct action of meeting at a set location and time and...
, residents fighting the expansion of Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and families against the Rudy Giuliani's 2008 campaign for President of the United States. He also frequently wrote op-ed
Editorial
An opinion piece is an article, published in a newspaper or magazine, that mainly reflects the author's opinion about the subject. Opinion pieces are featured in many periodicals.-Editorials:...
columns at major New York City newspapers, such as the New York Times, Newsday
Newsday
Newsday is a daily American newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties and the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island, although it is sold throughout the New York metropolitan area...
, the New York Daily News
New York Daily News
The Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
, and the Amsterdam News. Siegel has taught a class at New Utrecht High School
New Utrecht High School
New Utrecht High School is a coeducational public high school in Brooklyn, New York City, serving 3,114 pupils. It is part of New York City Region 7....
in Brooklyn, New York and has served on the boards of many foundations.
In 2001, Siegel ran for New York City Public Advocate and lost to Betsy Gotbaum
Betsy Gotbaum
Betsy Gotbaum was the New York City Public Advocate. She was elected as Public Advocate for New York City in 2001, and reelected in 2005. A longtime civic leader, she is the third woman elected to a citywide post in NYC history. Because she ran unopposed in the 2001 and 2005 elections, Betsy...
in a runoff. In 2005, he ran again, but was likewise unsuccessful. He was again a candidate in the 2009 election
New York City Public Advocate election, 2009
The election of the New York City Public Advocate took place on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, along with elections for the Mayor, the City Comptroller, borough presidents, and members of the New York City Council...
, losing in the Democratic primary to Bill de Blasio. In 2010, Siegel negotiated a settlement with New York City, ensuring that online journalists would receive access to official press credentials.