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Fields could face the death penalty in Aug. 12 hate crimes case
In a statement, Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said she was pleased with the federal indictment. The organization leads the Stop Hate Project, which helps community leaders, local government and law enforcement to combat hate.
“Hate crimes continue to proliferate in virtually every corner of our country,” she said. “We will continue to hold this Justice Department accountable when it comes to protecting victims of hate in this country, including those targeted at rallies, inside our schools, at the workplace and beyond.”
The Supreme Court Isn’t Going to Restrain Trump
“For the public to have confidence in the Supreme Court, we want to feel the justices are fairly and independently wrestling with the cases before them,” said Kristen Clarke, the president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “And, sadly, these last few weeks have felt both predictable and polarizing.”
They came seeking asylum. Now they want their children back.
One father from Guatemala told the attorneys that as he made his case to an asylum officer recently, he grew upset when asked whether he had spoken to his child. “He just broke down,” said Natasha Quiroga, a senior counsel with the nonprofit Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “The asylum officer stopped the interview and let [him] call the child.”
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law’s Statement On The Retirement of Justice Anthony M. Kennedy
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Kristen Clarke, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, issued the following statement following the announced retirement of Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, the pivotal swing vote of the U.S. Supreme...
The Supreme Court just hit public unions hard. Workers of color have the most to lose.
“The Janus decision is an affront to the labor rights of public sector employees all across our country, particularly working-class families who are disproportionately minority,” Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under said in a statement after the ruling was announced. “The ruling places corporate interests over the interests of some of the most vulnerable members of our workforce, including teachers, firefighters, police officers and other working-class employees.”
Charlottesville Suspect Indicted on Federal Hate Crime Charges
“It’s one of the most violent hate incidents to unfold in our country in recent time, it would have been impossible for this Justice Department to stand silently on the sidelines,” said Kristen Clarke, a former hate-crimes prosecutor and president of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
But she added, “We will continue to scrutinize Attorney General Sessions’ leadership more broadly, and when we do, there is great reason to feel very discouraged.”
Supreme Court tosses an electoral umbrella, leaving us all wet [Opinion]
Five years ago this month, the Supreme Court eliminated one of the most effective tools for safeguarding the right to vote: It nullified Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act in its decision in Shelby County v. Holder. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg observed in her dissent in Shelby, getting rid of Section 5 is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet. History since Shelby has proved Ginsburg right.
Suspect in Charlottesville Attack Charged With Hate Crimes
Kristen Clarke, a former hate crimes prosecutor and president of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said in a statement that her group was pleased with the federal indictment but that more work remains to be done to address the country’s growing “hate crime crisis.”
Silence on Sessions’ part “was simply not an option” because the Charlottesville rally “stands as one of the most violent hate rallies to be carried out in this country in recent time,” she said.
U.S. Supreme Court Issues Devastating Decision in NIFLA v. Becerra
Decision has negative implications for women, particularly women of color and low-income women (Washington, D.C.) Today, the Supreme Court issued a 5-4 ruling striking down the California Reproductive Freedom, Accountability, Comprehensive Care, and Transparency...
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law’s Statement On DOJ’s Federal Hate Crime Charge Against Suspect Of “Unite the Right” Rally Car Attack
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 27, 2018 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Kristen Clarke, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, issued the following statement following news that a federal grand jury in Virginia indicted the...
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Issues Statement on SCOTUS 5-4 Ruling in Janus v. AFSCME
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 5-4 decision in Janus v. AFSCME, Council 31, ruling that requiring non-members of public sector unions to pay fair share fees violates the First Amendment. Kristen Clarke, President and Executive Director,...
Florida Attorneys Lend Support to Separated Immigrant Families
About 105 Holland & Knight attorneys firmwide are working on current or new cases in Texas. Another 20 attorneys have volunteered for training to work with detained parents on asylum interviews and bond hearings. The firm is partnering with the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services on the work.
Restaurants kicking out Trump supporters: Unlike race or religion, it’s legal
“What we do know is the kind of incident involving Ms. Sanders is rare and isolated,’’Clarke says. “It is discrimination based on race, national origin and sexual orientation that we should be concerned about. Those problems are far-reaching, systemic and widespread across our country today.’’
Baltimore Board of Elections Extends Voting Hours for Polling Station Following Lawyers’ Committee / Maryland NAACP Lawsuit
State granted injunctive relief extending voting by one hour to 9 pm EDT WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, a Baltimore circuit court judge granted an injunction extending the voting deadline in three North Baltimore precincts following the filing of an emergency...
What’s Next for Migrant Families Who Have Been Separated?
Natasha Quiroga of the Lawyers’ Committee recently visited the facility. She says detainees, most who fled violence in Central America, don’t believe they have any good options. They can stay in detention, apart from their children, until their asylum case is heard. But that could take months. Or they could self-deport to reunify with their kids in their counties of origin. “They were just so desperate to get back with their kids that they’re opting to go this route,” she says, “and it’s not safe for them to go back to their country … and it’s a horrible decision that they have to make.”