Our rights, our future

Right-Wing Judges Send Civil Rights Advocates to Legislative Means

Those pesky right-wing activist judges are still at it. Have successfully waged a twenty year battle against civil rights protections, these judges continue to use their power to limit the rights of people in this country.

Choose your favorite right, and it’s likely that a right-wing judge has already attacked it. Protection from employment discrimination? Not so much so anymore. Access to justice via the courts? Yep, the conservatives have attacked it. Rights for people living with disabilities? Activist judges didn’t think those were so crucial to keep. How about something as basic as clean drinking water? Sorry; these judges figured you could live without that. You get the idea.

H&R Block To Gay Couple: You Can't File Your Taxes Online

H&R block wants to charge gay couples in Connecticut an additional $150 to file their tax returns. Jason Smith and his partner of six years, Settimo Piso, were told by H&R Block—which strives to "[provide] the best experience for ALL customers."—"We don't support Connecticut civil union returns." The tax preparer is willing to help the couple fill out the form, but only if they pay an extra $150 and visit one of H&R's offices. The slight led our partner group, the ACLU, to fire off an angry letter to H&R Block demanding equal treatment for the couple.

Human Rights in Everyday Life

When most people hear the phrase “human rights,” they either think of something vaguely international, like genocide, torture, or fascist regimes; or they think of something so ethereal, idealistic, and lofty that it couldn’t possibly have a real application in their daily lives. 

But is it possible that you walked past a human rights violation on your way to work this morning? Is it possible that you know about human rights violations going on in your hometown and do not even realize it? And is it possible that your very own human rights or the human rights of your children, parents, grandparents, or friends are being violated?

Appellate Court Slams Discriminatory Housing Ads

A ruling last week from the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals strongly condemned discriminatory housing ads on Craigslist and encouraged advocates to forward instances of discrimination to the Attorney General for prosecution. The case was brought by one of our partner groups, the Chicago chapter of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (LCCR), which objected to ads that warned: "NO MINORITIES" and "NO CHILDREN." These restrictions are gross violations of the Fair Housing Act of 1968, a successor to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Among the Fair Housing Act's numerous protections is a ban on housing ads that: "[indicate] any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin..."

While the Court declined LCCR's request to hold Craigslist responsible for discriminatory posts, Chief Judge Frank Easterbrook, writing for the Court, did say...

Senate Slashes EEOC Funding To Support English Language Training

The Senate voted 54-44 last week to steal $670,000 from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and hand it over to the Department of Education to fund English language training. The destructive amendment to the chamber's must-pass budget resolution would severely constrain the EEOC's ability to fight discrimination based on national origin, and was the brainchild of Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN), who has waged a rabid war against the EEOC's efforts to protect minorities.

Last year the Senator shoved a similar amendment into the Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations bill that would have barred the EEOC from taking action against discriminatory employers . The amendment was ultimately yanked from the conference report, and once again, House conferees will need to serve as agents of reason and justice. Who supported the amendment and how is the media characterizing the vote? Join us after the jump to find out.

Lawyers Can Lose Rights, Too

Joining the ranks of Halliburton and Hooters, the law firm Kirkland & Ellis will force its associates to sign mandatory binding arbitration agreements as a condition of continued employment. Mandatory binding arbitration is an extrajudicial perversion of justice that substitutes open court with private tribunals that shield proceedings from scrutiny or appeal. Arbitration has spread like a festering cancer, latching onto employment agreements, cellphone contracts, and even medical waivers. Let's look at Kirkland & Ellis' proposal, starting with their absurdly hypocritical critique of litigation.

New York Times Applauds Court For Restraint In Age Discrimination Case

The New York Times gave its editorial love to the Supreme Court for relying on reason and restraint to decide FedEx v Holowecki. The Justices ruled in the age discrimination case that workers could access the Equal Opportunity Commission even if their complaint was filed on the wrong form. The Times generously praised the Court's break from its "knee-jerk inclination to rule for corporations over workers and consumers," but warned against reading too far into the decision.

U.N. Expresses Concern Over U.S. Race-Based Discrimination

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: The National Campaign to Restore Civil Rights: Tanene Allison (212) 244-4664

Today, a key committee at the United Nations raised concern over racism in the United States and the government’s failure to combat racial inequality. In its findings, the U.N. committee highlights ways in which racial discrimination still plays a role in the American experience.

The U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) repeatedly expressed concern that civil and human rights in the U.S. have been “rolled back”. Problems range from racial segregation in the schools and racial disparities in the criminal justice system, to decreased access to the courts.

The National Campaign To Restore Civil Rights To Speak In Madison About The Era of Civil Rights Rollbacks and the Presidential Election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 29, 2008

CONTACT: The National Campaign to Restore Civil Rights: Tanene Allison (212) 244-4664

MADISON, WI - February 29 –
On Wednesday, March 5, 2008, Cristóbal Joshua Alex, Campaign Coordinator of the National Campaign To Restore Civil Rights (NCRCR) will speak at the University of Wisconsin Law School about the Rollback of the Civil Rights Era and the role of the Presidential selection process in fighting for civil rights.

Supreme Court Takes Small Step To Protect Workers

The Supreme Court last week voted to preserve the rights of workers to access the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The 7-2 ruling in Federal Express Corp. v. Holowecki marks a positive shift in the court's view of workplace discrimination, serving as a needed shot of reason in the wake of Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire Co. At issue is what constitutes a sufficient complaint to the EEOC before an employee can bring a private lawsuit.