WASHINGTON – The Senate confirmed Kalpana Kotagal today to serve as a commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Born in Ohio to parents who immigrated from India, Kotagal has practiced law for more than 15 years, working on several notable cases involving workplace fairness for people of color, women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and people with disabilities.
The following statement is from Kathryn Youker, Director of the Economic Justice Project for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law:
“We applaud the Senate’s confirmation of Kalpana Kotagalas an EEOC commissioner. She is dedicated to enforcing our nation’s civil rights laws and addressing workplace discrimination against Black workers and workers from other historically marginalized communities.
“The EEOC is a bulwark against unjust employment practices, striving to ensure individuals of all backgrounds receive equal opportunities based on their skills, talent and quality of work. Regrettably, many Black workers and other workers of color continue to face discrimination due to their race or ethnicity, including denial of apprenticeship and job opportunities, assignment to more dangerous duties, lower pay, and unwarranted scrutiny.
“As an experienced civil rights lawyer, Ms. Kotagal understands the struggles of working-class individuals. Her committedand exceptional advocacy throughout her legal career has contributed to improved working conditions for people of all backgrounds. Her addition to the EEOC will greatly benefit the commission, workers, and employers, enhancing the EEOC’s capacity to address and rectify discriminatory practices.With Ms. Kotagal’s help, the EEOC will continue to play a crucial role in the ongoing fight to dismantle discriminatory barriers in the workplace, helping us move closer to realizing the future we deserve.”
###
About the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law – The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee), 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 for Civil Rights Under Law is to secure, through the rule of law, equal justice for all, particularly in the areas of voting rights, criminal justice, fair housing and community development, economic justice, educational opportunities, and hate crimes. For more information, please visit https://lawyerscommittee.org.
