Abdi Soltani

Abdi Soltani has been executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Northern California since 2009. He is a nationally recognized civil rights leader who has dedicated his adult life to social justice and equal treatment for all. His early work as an organizer helped change California from a state that passed some of the most regressive policies in the mid-1990s to a state that is among the most progressive in our nation. As executive director, his fight for civil liberties has been expansive and inclusive of racial, gender, and economic justice. He has deepened ACLU’s partnerships with communities most directly impacted by injustice and disparities. Under his leadership, the ACLU has a stronger presence in the Central Valley and at the State Capitol. This expansion has enabled the ACLU to defend and advance the civil liberties of all Californians and to mobilize our communities as a collective voice for fairness and equity. He is actively involved in the Iranian American community. His favorite amendment to the US Constitution is the 14th amendment.