Lawyers' Committee Commends President Obama's National Urban League Speech; Urges Continued Dialogue for ESEA Reauthorization
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 29, 2010
CONTACT:
Stacie B. Royster
202-662-8317, office
sroyster@lawyerscommittee.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following President Barack Obama's Address on the Occasion of the National Urban League's Centennial Anniversary, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law issued the statement below:
"President Obama is to be commended for his overall remarks during the National Urban League's July 29th plenary session," said Lawyers' Committee Executive Director Barbara Arnwine. "I particularly appreciate his candid discussion of the Shirley Sherrod incident, prioritization of education reform and enthusiastic anticipation of signing the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 into law."
"We are in substantive agreement with the Administration that the status quo for education is not acceptable and that dramatic change is needed," Ms. Arnwine added. "To achieve effective change, the Lawyers' Committee looks forward to continued dialogue with the Administration to incorporate recommendations made in the recent framework for education reform submitted by the Lawyers' Committee and several other national civil rights organizations to guarantee equal educational opportunities for all students."
"As a central tenant of the Lawyers' Committee's education agenda is parental involvement and community reform strategies, we particularly value President Obama's remarks promoting parental involvement," said Lawyers' Committee Public Policy Director Tanya Clay House. "Also, we continue to urge mandatory diversity and integration standards in the classroom."
Added Ms. Arnwine, "We remain committed to working with President Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan as well as Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Russlynn Ali, who has been instrumental in Title VI compliance."
About the Lawyers' Committee
The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (LCCRUL), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, was formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to involve the private bar in providing legal services to address racial discrimination. The principal mission of the Lawyers' Committee is to secure, through the rule of law, equal justice under law, particularly in the areas of fair housing and fair lending, community development, employment discrimination, voting, education and environmental justice. For more information about the LCCRUL, visit www.lawyerscommittee.org.
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