To buy the book, visit the book’s web page on Amazon.com:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0927379716
A Hard Road to Justice: My Life as a Renegade Lawyer
by Tony Dior Gaenslen
From fighting alongside Cesar Chavez for migrant workers’ rights in California, to battling for the women of the “Cornell Eleven” in a landmark gender-discrimination suit, Tony Gaenslen’s career in law has been dedicated to disrupting the privileges of powerful interests. Born to a French mother (cousin to the legendary fashion designer Christian Dior) and a stern German-American father, Gaenslen’s life in civil rights began in his final year at Yale, when William Sloan Coffin inspired him in the early 1960s to join the dangerous, uncertain struggle in the South for the rights of black Americans. Some harrowing days in a Mississippi jail ensued, and cemented forever his dedication to justice. In A HARD ROAD TO JUSTICE, Gaenslen details a life rich in adventure, courtroom battles, activism and self-exploration, all guided by a passion for the law and a quest for human rights. Anyone interested in the law, civil liberties, and how one person’s dedication can make all the difference, will be absorbed and inspired by A HARD ROAD TO JUSTICE.
Watch Tony’s talk at Kendall (in Ithaca) on 2025 April 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6Sb2rXmSD0
About Tony Dior Gaenslen
Article in Milton Academy Magazine
https://www.miltonmagazine.org/site/2023/10/01/a-change-of-heart/
This article from Milton Magazine details Tony Dior Gaenslen’s transformation from a conservative youth to a passionate civil rights advocate. Initially a supporter of Robert E. Lee and opposed to labor unions and the Democratic Party, Gaenslen experienced a profound change during his senior year at Milton Academy.
A bicycle tour of Civil War battlefields led to a pivotal moment when he witnessed racial injustice, sparking his commitment to civil rights. Gaenslen participated in the March on Washington, endured imprisonment during the Freedom Summer of 1964, and became a close advisor to labor leader Cesar Chavez.
Despite facing challenges, including parental disapproval and personal sacrifices, Gaenslen dedicated his life to fighting for justice. He worked for the National Labor Relations Board and the United Farm Workers Union, representing marginalized groups. Later, he represented women faculty denied tenure at Cornell University. Gaenslen’s journey reflects a lifelong commitment to courage and making a difference, inspired by young activists and a belief in the possibility of change.
To buy the book, visit the book’s web page on Amazon.com:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0927379716