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Welcome to the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law’s Newsroom. This page contains our press releases, news clips and blog posts.
We have subject matter experts on civil rights issues ready to handle inquiries from journalists on such issues as voting rights, criminal justice, economic justice, fair housing, educational opportunity, racial justice matters and more.
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National Coalition on School Diversity Urges Policies to Mitigate Racial and Socioeconomic Segregation in Schools Confirmed by GAO Report
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report confirming increased racial and socioeconomic segregation in our nation's public schools. Two years ago, the GAO was asked to examine changes in student racial isolation or...
A Petition Drive Organized by a Coalition of Voting Rights Advocates and Community Members Stops Move of a Polling Location in a Majority African American Precinct to the Macon-Bibb County Sheriff’s Office
Groups Noted Likely Chilling Effect on Minority Voter Turnout if the Polling Location Was Moved to a Law Enforcement Agency Office WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the Macon-Bibb County, Georgia Board of Elections voted unanimously to reverse its decision to temporarily...
Lawyers’ Committee Supports Call for Better Use of Information to Challenge Increasing Racial and Socioeconomic Segregation in Schools
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released an important report confirming that residential segregation continues to contribute to racial and socioeconomic segregation in our public schools. The GAO was asked to examine changes in...
Petition blocks use of sheriff’s precinct as potential Macon-Bibb voting locale Petition receives enough signatures to block move to sheriff’s precinct
The Macon-Bibb County Board of Elections is expected to approve a new voting precinct following controversy surrounding a sheriff’s office precinct. The elections board is set to vote May 16 on temporarily moving a precinct to a church facility after board members...
U.S. Urges Colleges to Rethink Questions About Criminal Records
The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, an advocacy group, said this year that it was conducting an inquiry of colleges and universities that asked what it considered particularly intrusive questions on their applications, including questions about arrests...
Here’s Why North Carolina’s Anti-Trans Lawsuit Is a Big Waste of Time and Money
"I think there's been an evolution in the interpretation of our federal laws, when it comes to transgender rights," said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, in a phone interview Monday. "When the...
Lawyers’ Committee Welcomes “Beyond the Box”, Federal Guidance to Increase Access to Higher Education for Individuals with Criminal Histories
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) urged America's colleges and universities to eliminate barriers to higher education for an estimated 70 million citizens with criminal records. The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’...
Protecting the Right to Vote with Election Protection
Since as early as I can remember, I was taught that the only way for everyone to be equal is through education and voting. My ancestors shed blood and tears to provide me and my heirs the opportunity to vote. Now, as a number of states have passed laws that make it...
Kristen Clarke on MSNBC LIVE Speaking about Supreme Court Nominee Judge Merrick Garland
Lawyers’ Committee, National Immigration Law Center, Catholic Legal Immigration Network, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice Announce Third FirstGEN Summer 2016 Class
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 8, 2016 – Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC (Advancing Justice | AAJC), the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee), and the National Immigration Law Center...
Lawyers’ Committee Releases Report Evaluating Supreme Court Nominee Judge Merrick Garland’s Full Record on Civil Rights Cases and Issues Statement to U.S. Senate Urging Immediate Hearing and a Vote
More than 150 Attorneys Across Country Sign Statement Urging Senate to Immediately Commence Hearings Following Passage of 50 Days Since President Identified Court Nominee WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee)...
Will Trump get Merrick Garland confirmed?
Contentious hearings and even rejections of Supreme Court nominees are not an anomaly; all but ignoring the president’s pick is. Still, key legal groups are trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy. On Thursday, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under...
U.S. STUDENTS FILED RECORD 10,000 CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINTS LAST YEAR
“We are really pleased to see that OCR has become more aggressive in recent years, aggressive in terms of of issuing meted guidance to help aid school districts who are seeking and need to comply with the law,” says Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of...
Lawyers’ Committee Applauds Enforcement Efforts of U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 4, 2016 – Today, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued its 2015 Annual Report, "Delivering Justice." The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law applauds OCR's ongoing commitment to ensuring that all...
Lawyers’ Committee President and Executive Director Kristen Clarke to Participate on National Press Club Newsmaker Voting Panel –May 13
Remember Hanging Chads? May 13 National Press Club Newsmaker Looks at the Good, Bad and Ugly of Voting in the Upcoming 2016 Election Washington – A 2016 election season of unprecedented surprises on the campaign trail will be no less confusing in ballot boxes across...