Newsroom

Bobby Kennedy initiated the chain of events that led to the establishment of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. On June 21, 1963, 244 lawyers filled the East Room of the White House to hear President Kennedy speak about the need for civil rights legislation and listen to Attorney General Bobby Kennedy urge lawyers to use their specialized knowledge and called for the establishment of “lawyers’ committees” around the country to pursue the extension of civil rights. As we celebrate our 55th year, we continue to heed his call.

Kristen Clarke, President/ Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee, noted: “There is no defending the migrant family separation policy, one of the most callous and cruel policies that we have seen emerge from this administration.”

“In no uncertain terms, the NFL is standing on the wrong side of history with its repressive and racially-charged anthem rule. Just like generations of nonviolent civil rights activists before them, these players may be shuttered into a locker room but they will not be silenced,” said Kristen Clarke, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

“Holding children hostage in concentration camps is the new political bargaining chip of this administration and it is unconscionable,” Kristen Clarke, head of the Lawyers’ Committee on Civil Rights, told reporters outside the US Capitol.

US officials say more than 2,300 children have been separated from their parents or guardians since early May, when the administration announced its “zero tolerance” push to arrest and charge anyone illegally crossing the US-Mexico border, regardless of whether they were seeking asylum.

Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said the NFL is placing itself “on the wrong side of history” by introducing a policy that restricts free speech and suppresses peaceful protests against racial injustice. “These players are incredible patriots, fighting for a better America. These NFL players should be applauded for their boldness and courage in using their unique platform to shine a spotlight on these issues. Their work represents the best of American ideals.”

Voting rights attorneys and advocates expressed an urgency to get more challenges to the court to rule before the next round of electoral map-drawing. “Resolution of these issues for both lawmakers and voters is critical as we rapidly approach the 2020 redistricting cycle,” said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

Despite disappointment with the court’s failure to rule on the merits of the case, the decision to return the case to the lower courts could demonstrate more willingness to address these issues head-on, Jon Greenbaum, chief counsel of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law said. “People are going to continue to be interested in the issue and that provides a means for organizing. I don’t think that’s going to go away.”

“As national organizations we are uniting to make clear that we stand with those players who chose to use their platform to call attention to ongoing police shootings of unarmed people in our country,” Kristen Clarke said. “This is an issue that is not going away… the league’s policy puts them on the wrong side of history.”

The Supreme Court “failed to provide long-awaited resolution and clarity on what constitutes unlawful gerrymandering. As the case is now remanded to the district court for further development of the facts, we will remain vigilant to ensure that officials do not exploit this moment to alter redistricting maps in ways that undermine democracy,” Kristen Clarke said.