Groups Call for a Justice Department Committed to Civil Rights Enforcement
WASHINGTON – The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, along with 76 groups, today issued the following statement on the need for President-elect Joe Biden to name an attorney general of the United States and other senior leadership of the U.S. Department of Justice who have strong records with regard to civil rights enforcement and justice reform:
“The Biden-Harris administration must make civil rights enforcement a priority, and the Department of Justice is a pivotal leader in that effort. We need an attorney general and other senior leadership who are committed to ending discrimination; addressing white supremacy and hate violence; and advancing racial, gender, disability, ethnic, religious, immigrant, and LGBTQ justice. We need leaders who understand the authority, processes, and mission of the department, and who will defend the bedrock principle of equal justice for all people in America.
“We expect the department to be led with integrity, impartiality, and independence. Americans deserve an attorney general with a deep respect for the fundamental principles of liberty and justice for all, a demonstrated commitment to protecting and advancing the civil rights of everyone, and an unyielding dedication to transforming the criminal legal system.
“We look forward to working with the new department leadership and holding them accountable to achieve these goals.”
The following organizations have endorsed this statement:
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Advancement Project National Office
American Association of People with Disabilities
American Atheists
American Constitution Society
American Humanist Association
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)
Arab American Institute
Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF)
Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC
Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO)
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Center for Disability Rights, Inc.
Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
Center for Public Representation
Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism – California State University, San Bernardino
Clearinghouse on Women’s Issues
Common Cause
Defending Rights & Dissent
Disability Rights Advocates
Education Law Center-PA
End Citizens United / Let America Vote Action Fund
Equal Justice Society
Fair Elections Center
Faith in Public Life
Feminist Majority Foundation
Government Information Watch
Hindu American Foundation
Hispanic Federation
Human Rights Campaign
Interfaith Alliance
Interfaith Alliance of Iowa
Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc.
Japanese American Citizens League
Justice in Aging
Lambda Legal
LatinoJustice PRLDEF
League of Women Voters of the United States
MALDEF
Matthew Shepard Foundation
Missouri Voter Protection Coalition
Muslim Advocates
NAACP
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.
National Action Network
National Association of Social Workers
National Black Justice Coalition
National Coalition for Literacy
National Council of Churches
National Council of Jewish Women
National Council on Independent Living
National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)
National Employment Law Project
National Employment Lawyers Association
National Health Law Program
National Immigration Law Center
National LGBTQ Task Force
National Women’s Law Center
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
People For the American Way
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Public Justice
Revolving Door Project
Southern Echo Inc.
SPLC Action Fund
Stand Up America
Texas Progressive Action Network
The Sikh Coalition
The Workers Circle
Transformative Justice Coalition
UnidosUS
Union for Reform Judaism
UNITED SIKHS
Voto Latino
Workplace Fairness
(List last updated December 15, 2020)
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 220 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.
