Gardner W. Beckett, Jr., Friend of Civil Liberties Award

"If you tell me that the ACLU is only interested in conventional positions, then you tell me that it's no longer doing its job. It's because you have an organization that's out on the point, so to speak, on the cutting edge of civil rights, that other people can look upon its accomplishments as acceptable, but still say, 'Now it's going too far.' And of course, the answer is, in this area, as a matter of policy, we can never go too far. We continually have to press back the curtains of repression, and if we don't, they'll simply close."

---Gardner W. Beckett, Jr., 1990

About the Award

The Pinellas County Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union confers this honor upon individuals who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to basic civil liberties, principles, and values inherent in the Bill of Rights. In the footsteps of Gardner Beckett, these recipients exemplify an unflinching commitment to the defense of our constitution and it's guarantees of equal protection, due process, and simple justice.

Recipients:

1993 Robert Pittman

1991
Gardner Beckett, Jr. (Poynter Award)

1994
Donald
Musselman

1992
Jeanne
Malchon

1996 Winnie Foster

1998
Enrique
Escarraz III

1999
Sidney Goetz

1997
Perkins
Shelton

1995
Ruth
Uphaus

2003
Gene
Patterson

2001
Robyn
Blumner

2002
Myrtle
Smith-Carroll

2004
Dwight Lawton

2000
Linda Lerner

2008
Bruce
Howie

2006
Harold
Brockus

2007
Marcia
Cohen

2005
George
Greer

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