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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.
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Maryland Lawmakers Pass $580 Million Funding Bill For State HBCUs After Systematic Discrimination Suit
(Blavity) Maryland lawmakers have passed a funding bill, worth more than a half-billion dollars, for the state's four HBCUs. The legislation is in efforts to force federal courts to settle a lawsuit that alleges the state of Maryland was systematically...
Election Protection Overview of Barriers Faced by Voters in Illinois, Florida and Arizona Primary Elections
Washington D.C. (March 17, 2020) - On March 17, voters in Arizona, Florida, and Illinois cast ballots in their respective state’s presidential preference primaries. The primary election in Ohio did not go forward after state officials moved to postpone the election....
Despite COVID-19, poll officials report steady turnout, smooth voting
(Cronkite News) Voting in Arizona’s presidential preference primary Tuesday was decidedly calm in the midst of a decidedly anxious time in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, polling officials around the state said. Concerns about COVID-19 prompted Ohio officials...
Problems at the Polls: Primary Election Updates from National and State Organizations on Voting Issues
Join the 6:00pm ET press call Washington, DC (Tuesday, March 17) - Today at 6:00pm ET, national, state and Native voting rights leaders will hold a telephone press briefing to provide updates on the problems and challenges experienced by voters seeking...
Legal hotline for voters available; lawmakers’ return to Springfield uncertain
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s move to close primary polls because of coronavirus spawns confusion, criticism
Coronavirus chaos at the polls as primaries proceed in 3 of 4 states
(The Fulcrum) Chaos reigned Tuesday in all three states that pressed ahead with their Democratic presidential primaries in the face of the burgeoning coronavirus pandemic. Legions of poll workers, who are mainly older people and therefore in greatest danger of...
How Illinois Can (and Should) Prevent COVID-19 From Disenfranchising Voters
CHICAGO and WASHINGTON, DC (March 16, 2020) Yesterday, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights in conjunction with the national Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law sent a letter to the Illinois State Board of Elections and the Illinois Attorney General’s...
Election Protection Press Briefings with Voting Rights Leaders on Issues at the Polls on 3/17 at 11:30am & 6pm ET
Join press calls for updates on Primary Day voting issues Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, March 17, at 11:30 am ET and 6:00 pm ET, national, state and local voting rights leaders will hold telephone press briefings to provide updates on the problems and challenges...
Election Protection 866-OUR-VOTE Hotline Available to Help Voters
Election Protection Coalition Ready to Address Barriers to Voting and COVID-19-Related Challenges Washington, DC -- On Tuesday, March 17th, legal volunteers staffing the non-partisan Election Protection 866-OUR-VOTE...
Maryland General Assembly authorizes $580 million for state’s historically black colleges and universities
(Washington Post) The Maryland General Assembly has approved legislation providing $580 million over 10 years to the state’s four historically black colleges and universities, a major step toward ending a 13-year-old lawsuit over inequitable funding of the schools.
Intensifying coronavirus fears rattle voters and elections officials in advance of Tuesday primaries
Georgia Postpones Presidential Primary Election
National Civil Rights Group Responds Washington, DC (March 14, 2020)–Today Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger issued a statement announcing the decision to postpone the March 24 presidential primary election. The election will now be conducted on May 19,...
Georgia becomes second state to delay presidential primary over coronavirus pandemic
National Urban League & Lawyers’ Committee Urge Census Bureau to Extend Deadlines In Response to Coronavirus
NEW YORK (March 13, 2020) – National Urban League and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law today called on the Trump Administration to extend the deadline to respond to the decennial Census, in light of the coronavirus crisis. “We are already in...