Rocky fights for peace &
human & animal rights
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"It's so important that the human rights community address climate change within a human rights framework." - Rocky Anderson
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While George W. Bush came to Salt Lake City to sign copies of his memoir at the Costco store in Sandy, Utah, High Road for Human Rights (co-founded by Rocky Anderson) organized a rally in Pioneer Park to remind the world that we still need accountability on Bush's war crimes. Other speakers included Brigadier General David Irvine, Archie Archuletta, Ashley Anderson, and Molly Robbins.
"Former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson is a man who doesn’t mind going against the grain, especially when it comes to the cause of peace."
" 'Ascertaining and disclosing the truth about these matters is vital in order to restore the rule of law and the crucial role Congress plays in the system of checks and balances that has been utterly eviscerated,' Anderson said."
"Our nation has engaged in a tragic unnecessary war, based upon categorically false justifications..." - Rocky Anderson
"The framers of the Constitution feared that giving the president war-making powers would make the president essentially an elected monarch inclined to increase his power by initiating war." - Rocky Anderson
" 'The Obama Administration has contended that no documents stamped as secret by a government agent should ever be allowed into evidence by our courts. That even goes beyond what the Bush Administration did.' "
- Rocky Anderson 
"[Rocky Anderson] called for special prosecutors to investigate the administration for such things as 'felonious warrantless wiretapping, torture and kidnappings.' "
"The statements from the two debaters, followed by questions submitted by the audience, lasted about two hours. Anderson stressed that while many should be held accountable for the U.S. involvement in Iraq, it is Bush who has repeatedly lied. 'He was selling us a bill of goods,' the mayor said."
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" 'If we do not call for accountability, we are complicit,' Anderson thundered to repeated ovations. 'We either condone by our inaction, or we hold Bush accountable to demonstrate to the rest of the world that we are so much better than this.' "
Rocky Anderson, former Executive Director of High Road for Human Rights, testified before the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary in Washington D.C. on July 25, 2008, regarding illegal conduct and other egregious abuses by then-President George W. Bush, and other members of his administration. In his testimony, Anderson discusses possible steps toward accountability, future deterrence, and reform before the U.S. House of Representatives.
"[W]e felt that it was so absolutely crucial that even here, in the reddest state in the country, where President Bush has his highest approval ratings, we could demonstrate tremendous opposition of this incredibly dishonest presidency, this disastrous presidency that's led us into this unconscionable, illegal war." - Rocky Anderson
ROCKY ANDERSON ON THE US'S IMPERIALIST HISTORY - UNDERMINING DEMOCRACY IN GUATEMALA, IRAN AND BEYOND
Rocky Anderson on the U.S.'s Imperialist History - Undermining Democracy In Guatemala, Iran and Beyond (Circa 2014)
"When he stepped down as mayor, Anderson didn’t join a law firm or become a lobbyist. Instead, he launched a nonprofit advocacy organization, High Road for Human Rights, which took, as its first task, forcing a probe of the Bush years."
"Patriotic Americans believe that those in power must earn their authority over other human beings. That authority is not earned simply by gaining office; it is earned by upholding our nation's values." - Rocky Anderson
"Rocky Anderson returned to City Hall on Wednesday evening, joined by a couple of thousand like-minded opponents of President Bush and the war in Iraq."
Highlights from Rocky Anderson's time as Executive Director of High Road for Human Rights.
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"Rocky Anderson's status as a national anti-war figure continues to grow, and along with it, so do his convictions."
"Rocky Anderson supports Bradley Manning. Exposing war crimes is not a crime. https://www.bradleymanning.org"
"Lawyer and former mayor of Salt Lake City from 2000-2008, Ross "Rocky" Anderson continues to play a part in the city's growth. In 2011, he founded the Justice Party—a political party alternative to what he sees as the duopoly of the two major political parties—that focuses on economic growth, aggressive climate reform and social justice issues. Anderson also founded High Road for Human Rights in 2008, an organization that advocates grassroots activism to address issues such as torture, genocide, slavery, the death penalty and the human rights implications of global climate change."
"This president [Barack Obama]…has actually proposed that he be given the power to point to anybody—including U.S. citizens—and indefinitely detain them without charges, without a trial, and beyond any limitation in terms of time. . ." Rocky Anderson
"Anderson and the other activists outlined their reasons why Congress should move forward with proceedings to impeach Bush and Cheney."
"[H]undreds of protesters came out to the rally with signs criticizing the Bush administration as well as the management of the war in Iraq."
"More than 2,000 people packed Washington Square for a peace and human-rights rally hosted by former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson. . ."
This High Road for Human Rights video discusses the need for citizens of the US to speak up when genocide occurs--or threatens to occur—around the world and push the US Government to intercede.
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Rocky debates Sean Hannity on Iraq War, illegal surveillance, and torture (3 parts).
Before Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2023, Rocky urged a far more aggressive approach by the United States toward a peaceful resolution. He urged that the United States and its allies recognize that Russia has legitimate security concerns because NATO has expanded right up to Russia’s borders. To provide perspective, we should all keep in mind that the United States came close to starting a nuclear war with the U.S.S.R. when the U.S.S.R. placed missiles in Cuba in response to U.S. deployments of missiles in Italy and Turkey, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear annihilation. (This is historically referred to as the 1962 “Cuban Missile Crisis”.) In Rocky’s view, nothing justifies the murderous response of Putin against the Ukrainian people. Rather, Rocky simply urges that the United States and its allies should recognize the provocative nature of NATO expansion and the placement of missiles near Russia’s borders and do everything reasonably necessary to help negotiate a peaceful resolution of the present aggressive and illegal war by Russia. In the meantime, the United States should continue to do everything possible to support the Ukrainian people against the horrific atrocities committed against them at the behest of Putin.
MARRIAGE EQUALITY & LGBTQ+ ADVOCACY
"Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson recently made headlines when he signed an executive order on Sept. 21 to provide domestic partner benefits for Salt Lake City employees."
"Rocky Anderson will serve as grand marshal of today's Utah Pride Day 2001 parade, becoming the first Salt Lake City mayor to do so."
"Progress happens when committed people come TOGETHER and push tenaciously for what they know is right. Fighting together for change is how so many movements have succeeded in the U.S.—like the slavery abolition movement, the women’s suffrage movement, the labor movement, the civil rights movement, and the marriage equality movement. Let’s join TOGETHER now to bring about major changes so that Salt Lake City will be a shining national and international example of how to provide for adequate affordable housing, an end to chronic homelessness, and restorative justice for the benefit of all." – Rocky Anderson
"Mayor Rocky Anderson's presence was a nice exclamation point to the come-one, come-all statement of Utah Pride Day 2001, some celebrants said."
"In 2000, Mayor Rocky Anderson won running on a platform that included support of gay marriage."
"Anderson echoes the sentiments of many activists following the incident, arguing that change will have to come from within the culture rather than the courtroom."
"Anderson’s 'attempt to circumvent existing law is tantamount to the San Francisco mayor standing on the steps (of City Hall) and performing (gay) marriages,' Christensen said."
"The case revolves around a decision by Mayor Rocky Anderson to extend those benefits to Salt Lake City workers. This case is about benefits for city workers, but it also is about benefits for same-sex partners, and that's where the controversy comes in."
"'Those who advocate marriage equality are going to prevail' said Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson. . ."
" . . . Joe provided unique safe places for gays and straights alike to gather and build lifetime memories. I was a naïve straight Utah college boy when I visited the Sun Tavern in the old Railroad Exchange location with some friends and surprisingly found there was an open gay bar where straight people were also welcomed. Getting to know one another in settings like that is perhaps the best means of developing friendships and expanding understanding between people. . . . " — Rocky Anderson
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Rocky Anderson has spent much of his adult life helping those in need and fighting for the civil and human rights of all. That’s why he received the American Association for Justice’s national In Defense of Civil Liberties Award. His support of equality for the LGBTQ+ community came much earlier than almost anyone in politics. When Rocky supported same sex marriage during his congressional race in 1996, he knew it would probably cost him the election (it did), but his commitment to principled leadership meant more to him than winning an election.
"Efforts by Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson to extend health insurance benefits to city employees were also a major factor in listing Salt Lake City in the book..."
" 'This goes beyond legal ramifications. It's not merely symbolic,' Anderson said. 'It’s going to be very effective in sending the message that we will not tolerate discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in Salt Lake City.' "
" 'Let us all call for greater love, better understanding, dignity and respect toward all — regardless of race, regardless of faith or lack of faith, and regardless of sexual orientation,' Anderson said."
"Anderson has publicly supported marriage equality since as early as his 1996 bid for Congress. In 2005, Mayor Anderson got the ball rolling by extending domestic partnership benefits to all city employees in order to 'provide very real benefits to both the adults and children in employees' families.' Freedom to Marry salutes Rocky Anderson as a Voice for Equality."
"Anderson's duties as a member of the organization's honorary board, known as 'Voices of Equality,' include helping "end discrimination in civil marriage" and eventually 'influence the decision makers,' according to a letter asking for his support."
"It is not illegal for Salt Lake City to offer health insurance benefits to "adult designees" of city workers who live in the same household but are not married to the employee, a judge has ruled. Third District Judge Stephen Roth issued a five-page opinion Friday stating that when employers offer such benefits it does not violate state law or the Utah Constitution. . . .
Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson said Friday he is pleased with Roth's ruling, which underscores the right of municipalities to provide insurance benefits to partners of city workers. 'The principle established by Judge Roth's opinion is an important one in that neither state statutes nor the state constitution prohibit the provision of equal benefits to people who are not the children or spouses of employees,' Anderson said. But Anderson still is unhappy with the 'discriminatory' city ordinance now in place that gives such benefits to the 'adult designees' of city workers— instead of 'domestic partners.' " 
"I signed an Executive Order on September 21, 2005 that extended benefits presently enjoyed by spouses of City employees to domestic partners of City employees. The aim of this Executive Order was to provide parity between employees with spouses and employees that have spousal-like relationships. The Executive Order guarantees, to the greatest extent possible, equality among employees regardless of sexual orientation or marital status." - Rocky Anderson, 2006
"Pride has come so far, as has our society! It has been an inspiring, albeit difficult, journey. We should all be grateful to everyone who kept up, and continues, the fight for equality and dignity!" — Rocky Anderson
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"Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson recently made headlines when he signed an executive order on Sept. 21 to provide domestic partner benefits for Salt Lake City employees."
"Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson was honored Friday by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Utah for supporting the state's gay and lesbian community."
" Many participants, including Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, expressed their determination to defeat Utah's amendment to ban gay marriage. 'I think it's a horrendous thing," Anderson said. . . 'Not only for the people of this community, but for our economics. We've lost conventions and businesses as a result of the perception of this place caused by discriminating legislation.'"
"With legal challenges nearly certain, attorney Rocky Anderson believes the law will fail in court. 'Legally, it’s preposterous. They are going to lose. It’s going to be a long, expensive, wasteful legal battle,' Anderson told 2News."
"We ought to all join together and try to support each other, encourage good, stable, loving relationships among people in all kinds of familial relationships."
" 'Society's treatment of gays and lesbians has made life tragically difficult and painful for them, and has too often deprived our community of the valuable perspectives and resources they offer,' Anderson said at City Hall..."
"A conservative legal group has filed suit against Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson over his executive order extending benefits to the nonmarried domestic partners of city employees."
"It's done," the mayor said, dropping his pen. But for some conservative politicians the fight has just begun. They reject the gay community's view of the city's order, saying it's part of a broader effort to one day elevate gay marriage to an equal footing with traditional marriage. . . . With taxpayers financially unaffected by the plan, Anderson said there is little reason to oppose it. He encouraged other Utah cities to follow the capital's lead. "This doesn't undermine the institution of marriage one bit," Anderson said. "Equality doesn't undermine the institution of marriage but strengthens it."
" The mayoral election of 1999 when Rocky Anderson won was a landmark election, [Michelle Turpin, Co-Founder of Equality Utah] said. When Anderson was elected, he said he never would have been able to do it without the help of the queer community."
"Anderson is trying to ensure that every single person’s race, religion, gender and sexual orientation are represented equally and aggressively. Our mayor is proactively breaking down barriers that separate our community by confronting controversial issues and finding solutions. Whether or not we agree with another person’s lifestyle is our own opinion, but we should still respect one another."
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WOMEN'S RIGHTS
"In Utah, pregnancy-related deaths have occurred an average of every 9 days, and Utah’s trigger law is predicted to make matters worse."
"...Anderson, who first made ripples in local politics back in the 1970s, when he worked as an attorney with Planned Parenthood to open up Utah’s restrictive antiabortion and anticontraception laws..."
"'We need to educate and promote family planning. Stop unwanted pregnancies, then we don't face' the decision of abortion."
- Rocky Anderson 
"Anderson's 'Call for Action' as he labeled it was headlined "Freedom from unreasonable public policies restricting personal choices and harming public health."
"The complaint, filed by attorney Ross Anderson . . . asks that those in charge of the jail be compelled to formulate and implement policies prohibiting vaginal searches unless there is probable cause to believe a weapon, drugs or evidence of a crime are concealed there."
In this important class action lawsuit, handled pro bono by Rocky as a "cooperating attorney" with the Utah ACLU (where he was then a volunteer Legal Panel Director and later served as President of the Board), a consent decree was entered by the federal court significantly restricting the circumstances under which strip searches could be conducted. 
"Let no woman be demeaned by any public officials who think they know best how women should live their lives. Let no woman’s freedom be affected by any public official who would supplant his or her judgment for that of the women whose lives are impacted. And let no woman’s quality of life, including income, be compromised by anyone who is not committed to equality under the law and justice for all." -Rocky Anderson, speaking at the 'War on Women' Rally at Utah State Capitol, April 29, 2012
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"It's time that we have federal protection for members of our GLBT community and absolutely prohibit any discrimination on account of gender." go to 1:07:40 for the question, then hear Rocky's answer.
"Hatch and all other members of the Senate should demand full accountability rather than provide excuses for perpetrators and seek to discredit those with the courage to expose their abusers." - Rocky Anderson
"Even the Supreme Court was divided in Roe vs. Wade but did lay down some reasonable rules as the law of the land, which Ross Anderson and most Americans support."
Through a video based on Rocky's research and written and produced by him, he sought to raise awareness about the character and long-time misogyny of Donald Trump.
"Whether it was...sex education and teen pregnancy prevention [Anderson] sought on the Planned Parenthood board...Anderson said he was 'running up against public officials that you realize — at least a majority of them — aren't really interested in either studying the issue or necessarily doing the right things for the right reasons.' "
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[October 30, 2012] Read Rocky's proposed New Equal Rights Amendment here
CODEPINK began on November 17, 2002, when organizes set up for a 4-month all-day vigil in front of the White House during the cold of winter to protest the U.S. led war on Iraq. The Salt Lake City CODEPINK chapter presented the above-award to Rocky for his "unwavering support of and dedication to the equality, diversity and civil rights of the citizens of Salt Lake City . . ."
"Can any, like the majority of Utah voters who were going to cast their ballots for Trump, authentically claim they are "shocked" to discover that Trump is a disgusting, narcissistic, dishonest, cheating, racist, fraudulent, misogynistic pig?" - Rocky Anderson
"Anderson, now a presidential candidate with the new Justice Party, tied such measures to a broader 'undoing of the American dream of equality and justice.' "
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ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SEX ABUSE
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"The judge, Richard Warren Roberts, was a lawyer at the time. The alleged victim, Terry Mitchell, was the key witnesses in the murder trial of a serial killer Roberts was prosecuting.
" 'We have conclusive proof. This isn't just a 'he said, she said', ' Mitchell's attorney, former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, said..."
"The lawsuit filed in Salt Lake City by Terry Mitchell accuses Judge Richard W. Roberts of repeatedly raping her when she was a witness in a 1981 federal trial and he was a federal prosecutor handling civil-rights cases."
"Michelle Scott filed a complaint in federal district court against her adoptive father, Steven Hammock, alleging that he had intentionally and recklessly inflicted emotional and psychological distress on her by physically and sexually abusing her for a period of more than ten years beginning in 1972 when she was five years old. In 1983, prior to the filing of the civil complaint, Steven Hammock was charged criminally with four counts of forcible sexual abuse against Scott and her sister. Hammock pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted forcible sexual abuse."
"Ross C. Anderson, representing Michelle Scott, is seeking to gain access to statements made by Scott's adoptive father, Steven LeRoy Hammock, to his LDS bishop. . . . 'If there is no confession, there is no privilege,' Anderson said. Hammock admitted three times in his sworn deposition that the statements he made to his LDS bishop were not confessions, Anderson said. For statements to be confessional, Anderson said they must be made with remorse and sorrow. By finding in favor of Scott, McConkie said the court would be jeopardizing the confidentiality of future conversations between clergy and church members. . . . By finding in favor of Hammock, Anderson said the court would be depriving future plaintiffs of important evidence and would place the courts in the position of having to determine the genuineness of a religion.
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"Roberts’ attorneys are arguing that this sort of retroactive change is not just unfair to a defendant, but violates the Utah Constitution and Supreme Court precedent dating almost all the way back to statehood. Anderson contends that’s not the case
"Anderson said Mitchell first went to the Utah Attorney General's Office about a year ago with evidence of the alleged sex abuse. When the AG decided not to prosecute Roberts, she went to Anderson to file the civil suit.
"A 16-year-old survivor who witnessed a neo-Nazi sniper’s killing spree says she was systematically abused by the man who put him behind bars. Only now has she dared to tell her story."
Click the link above to read Plaintiff's Petition for Rehearing relating to the Utah Supreme Court Opinion in the Mitchell vs. Roberts case.
Read about Rocky's past work with High Road for Human Rights to bring awareness to human slavery and trafficking.
"Michelle Scott, Hammock's adopted daughter, has filed a $2.5 million suit against Hammock, accusing him of sexually and physically abusing her from the time she was 5 years old until she left home at 15. She seeks $1.5 million in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages, Anderson said."
"Her attorney Rocky Anderson called the written opinion 'utterly bizarre' and a departure from the court’s own earlier rulings. He said his client will petition for a re-hearing, although such requests are rarely granted."
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"Despite the AG’s refusal to pursue criminal charges, Rocky Anderson firmly believes that under a new statute passed by the Utah legislature in 2016, Terry can still seek justice in the case of Roberts."
"She alleges that he took her to a hotel and raped her repeatedly while she served as a chief witness in a 1981 murder trial he led as a federal prosecutor."
"Terry Mitchell said no matter what happens at the supreme court, she hopes other victims of sex abuse will come forward and speak out to seek immediate justice against their abusers. 'You are not alone. It’s right to seek justice,' she said."
" . . . [ACLU Attorney Ross C. "Rocky"] Anderson said Harding's suit would have been filed regardless of the investigation because prison officials have failed to protect inmates from assaults by other inmates and prison personnel. . . . Anderson said Harding's complaint was one of many reports of sexual improprieties involving medical and security personnel the ACLU has received from inmates
"Anderson saw for himself the plight of young girls when he attended a Global Warming Conference in New Delhi, India last October. Anderson presented a slide show preceding the premiere which included photographs of sections of G.B. Road, a red light district in New Delhi."
Read HB0279 here: https://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/hb0279.html
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IMMIGRATION REFORM
"It was absolutely the most incredible thing. Without a doubt, the largest demonstration by many, many times that we’ve ever seen here in Salt Lake City." - Rocky Anderson
"Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson denounced the investigation as 'grandstanding' and complained, 'At the end of the investigation, state and federal officers arrested and imprisoned dozens of workers. These arrests left many families in turmoil, with children waiting at home for their parents to return from work.' "
"Former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson spoke along with activists and religious leaders before the group marched to the Capitol."
"The United States must no longer be burdened with an outdated, economically unwise, and unwelcoming immigration system, where the laws do not match our nation’s practices, and our practices do not match our laws." - Rocky Anderson
"We have proudly advocated on behalf of immigrants and their families -- and for a major overhaul of our immigration laws, recognizing that our federal government and corporate community has, in actuality, invited and enticed undocumented workers to come to the US to work at low-paying jobs and that we, as a nation, have a duty to recognize that fact and the great contributions made by immigrant workers by creating a path toward workers' permits and, eventually, citizenship. That advocacy has resonated nation-wide, as reflected in the recent receipt of the LULAC Profile in Courage Award and the National Association of Hispanic Publications President's Award." - Rocky Anderson, July 28, 2006
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" 'We have to demand the abolishment of the unjust practices and policies that hurt so many hardworking people-the practices that only force them and their families to live in fear in the margins of our nation,' Anderson said."
"Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson is urging other U.S. mayors to do what he did not have a chance to do: warn un-documented airport workers to leave their jobs. . . . Anderson blames “hypocritical” U.S. immigration policies for the problem. He says U.S. attorneys and the Immigration and Naturalization Service give 'a wink and a nod' to undocumented foreign workers every day."
"Paul Warner, the U.S. attorney in Utah, has weathered a storm of criticism for the airport arrests--including statements of condemnation from Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson."
"We need to recognize that for decades our government and the corporate sector have acted in collusion, giving a wink and a nod to millions of people to come into this country without legal documentation so that they could fill jobs in certain sectors of our economy. And we owe it to everyone involved never to make these people live in the shadows any longer. We need a compassionate approach, a reasonable approach, not one that calls for the deportation of 12 to 14 million people or to criminalize what they're doing." - Rocky Anderson on NPR's Democracy Now!, Expanded Second Obama-Romney 2012 debate, Oct 16, 2012.
"Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson said at a rally Friday that had he known earlier about a federal roundup of illegal aliens at the Salt Lake City International Airport, he would have warned them to leave their jobs before they were arrested."
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"Anderson drew the association's attention for his advocacy for Utah Hispanics, including opposing English-only laws, supporting immigrant rights in an airport raid in 2001 and opposing deputizing police officers as agents for Immigration and Naturalization Service in 1997. . . .'We need not allow others to put us on the defensive as we strive for greater economic and social justice," he said. 'History will condemn those who strive to polarize our country, to turn hard-working people into scapegoats, or use insidious rhetoric to undermine workable, humane policy solutions.' "
" 'I'm trying to solve the problem on a local and national level,' Anderson said. . .referring to the letter sent to some 50 other mayors and to his office's effort to direct contributions to Centro Civico Mexicano for airport workers' families. 'We're putting together packages of food and toys for five of these families,' he added."
". . . Anderson has often stood up for illegal immigrants' rights. In 2001 he chastised the federal government for a raid at the Salt Lake City International Airport that netted 69 arrests."
"Mayor Rocky Anderson, and his administrator for minority and community affairs, Mark Alvarez, were booed and heckled. . .by audience members upset over their support of a pro-immigration march and rally last week that involved about 20,000 people."
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"Let's send the message: Welcome to Utah! A state that actually welcomes and values ALL of our brothers and sisters!" - Rocky Anderson
ADVOCACY FOR MINORITY COMMUNITIES
"To smear all Muslims and Arabs with the perception that they are “terrorists” or supportive of terrorism is no more justified than saying that all Christians are terrorists because some of them engage in terrorism in Ireland, or asserting that all Jews are terrorists because of the shelling of innocent civilians in Lebanon by military personnel from Israel." - Rocky Anderson
" 'This is a time when we can learn more about the challenges facing these families, especially refugee families,' Anderson said."
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"The mayor [Rocky Anderson] and police chief assured dozens of Bosnian immigrants that authorities would not stand for any threats against their community."
"Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson conducts numerous government functions in numerous languages. . . And he always has a Spanish translator on hand at his roving 'Saturday Morning With the Mayor' events."
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" 'We stand in support of the local Bosnian community,' the mayor [Rocky Anderson] said."
"At best, the English-only law would discourage community between cultures in the state. At worst, it would deprive non-English speakers of their rights. . .Anderson and seven other individuals filed suit against the law just before it went into effect."
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