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January 18, 2021

Las Vegas attorney Athar Haseebullah is the first person of color to lead the ACLUNV

LAS VEGAS – Local attorney and community organizer Athar Haseebullah, Esq. has been named the new executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada and will assume leadership of the organization effective Jan. 19, 2021.  Haseebullah is the first person of color to lead the nonprofit since its founding in 1966.

Haseebullah brings a breadth of litigation, policy, and organizational leadership experience to the ACLUNV.  He most recently served as general counsel and director of strategic initiatives for Opportunity 180, a Nevada non-profit focused on improving education quality in Nevada.  Prior to his tenure with Opportunity 180, Haseebullah served as the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada’s senior government affairs and legal administrator.  Haseebullah also spent several years as a litigator for both Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada and the City of New York. 

ACLUNV Executive Director Athar Haseebullah said:

“The ACLU has long been America’s beacon of hope for all who have been impacted by injustice, and I look forward to leading Nevada’s ACLU, which remains committed to providing a voice for those who have been ignored, overlooked, and underserved. Working in tandem with the community we serve, we look forward to impacting Nevada in positive ways and protecting our civil liberties.”

Haseebullah is a graduate of Howard University and Howard University School of Law.  His organizational affiliations include his service as secretary for the Urban Chamber of Commerce, president of the local alumni chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., a member of the board of directors for the Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada, chairperson for the Masjid Ibrahim, and service with various other organizations. Haseebullah is a practicing Muslim whose parents immigrated to the United States from Pakistan.