The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights issued four official statements, which can be viewed under “Highlights” on the Commission’s website. The statements relate to:
- Statement on Charlottesville, Virginia (by unanimous vote).
- Condemning the announced military ban on transgender individuals (by majority vote).
- Raising concern about reversal of the Department of Justice’s position in key voting rights cases (by majority vote).
- Disapproving the Department of Justice’s civil asset forfeiture policy (by unanimous vote).
At its meeting today, the Commissioners also discussed and voted on the details of its investigation of voting rights, which will examine voting rights enforcement efforts after the 2006 reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 including evaluating the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder. To commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Commission also heard historical presentations from Professors Alexander Keyssar and Mary Ellen Curtin about the events leading to the passage and reauthorization of the landmark legislation.
Commission Chair Catherine E. Lhamon stated: “Racialized terror that was once common in our nation’s past must not return to typify our present. Today, and every day, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights stands sentry for and with this nation to ensure that we live our civil rights guarantees. The Commission continues to shine a spotlight on injustices and work towards a future of equality for all Americans.”
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is an independent, bipartisan agency charged with advising the President and Congress on civil rights matters and issuing an annual federal civil rights enforcement report. For information about the Commission, please visit http://www.usccr.gov and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
