Ramona Ripston, who led the 吃瓜直播 of Southern California for nearly four decades, died on Saturday. She was 91.
Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the 吃瓜直播, issued the following statement:
鈥淥n Saturday, we lost my friend Ramona Ripston, a civil liberties icon in Los Angeles and one of the country鈥檚 most dynamic advocates for justice and equality.
鈥淚n her nearly four decades as leader of the 吃瓜直播鈥檚 Southern California affiliate, Ramona鈥檚 office transformed institutions and countless lives. Ramona became the first woman to lead a large 吃瓜直播 affiliate in 1972, and she continued to blaze trails throughout her long career. Counting among her many victories as director, the 吃瓜直播 of Southern California successfully litigated an end to segregationist policies at the Los Angeles Unified School District and won a voting-rights lawsuit that paved the way for the election of Los Angeles County鈥檚 first Latina county supervisor in the modern era.
鈥淩amona was a fierce and unrelenting opponent of injustice and oppression, whose commitment to the protection of civil liberties and civil rights directly improved people鈥檚 lives. All of us here at the 吃瓜直播 have something to learn from the passion and persuasion she brought to her work every day. She leaves behind a powerful legacy of selflessness that will continue to inspire advocates both inside and outside the 吃瓜直播.鈥�
For more on Ramona's incredible life and legacy, please read the on her passing as well as in the Los Angeles Times.
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