Fermilab attracts scientists, not only from this country, but from many other nations all over the world. Foreign visitors, laypersons, as well as scientists, come to the laboratory to participate in its work. They represent a wide variety of races, nationalities, cultures and beliefs. It is essential that we provide an environment and maintain an atmosphere in which both staff and visitors can live and work with pride and dignity without regard to such differences as race, religion, sex, or national origin.
In any conflict between technical expediency and human rights we will stand on the side of human rights. This is because of our dedication to science. The support of human rights in our laboratory and its environs is inextricably intertwined with our goal of making the Laboratory a center of technical and scientific excellence. The latter is not likely to be achieved without success of the former.
—From Robert Wilson's original policy statement on human rights at Fermilab.