Ellsberg's address was well-received by the 500-plus ACLU members and supporters in attendance. Several awards were presented, including the Torch of Freedom award to state Sen. Ross Romero, D-Salt Lake City. The group lauded Romero as "an indispensable ally of civil liberties who eloquently and passionately speaks out against racism and abuse of power."

Romero demanded that legislative leadership respond to comments made by Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, during the 2008 Utah legislative session in which Buttars compared a bill on school district splits to a baby that was "black" and "ugly." Sen. Scott McCoy, D-Salt Lake City, said in a videotaped interview that he has great admiration and respect for his colleague.

"I think (Romero's) legal training and his intellect really are a great asset," McCoy said. "A great resource to the rest of us at the Senate."

ACLU of Utah development director, Anna Brower, said after the event that it was one of the biggest gatherings hosted by the group and that her organization, which has about 2,500 members in the state, continues in its commitment to the defense and preservation of the rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution.

---

E-mail: araymond@desnews.com