CIVIL RIGHTS POLICIES, ANALYSIS, AND RESOURCES
Latest Civil Rights Posts
A Renewed Emphasis on Sexual Harassment and Assault Incidents at DOJ In The Workplace and Beyond; Federal Agency Action
On April 12, 2018, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced an expansion of an ongoing DOJ sexual harassment program. The initial program, announced in October 2017, is an initiative to combat sexual harassment in the housing market and protect women from harassment from landlords, property managers and other employees of rental property owners in the rental of housing units and properties.
Is The Department of Housing and Urban Development Becoming Hostile To Racial Equality Efforts?
On March 28, 2018, a New York Times investigation reported that Dr. Ben Carson, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), had ordered the Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Division at the federal agency to pause investigations into violations of federal fair housing laws.
The Poorly Written Anti – Sex Trafficking Bill; Proposed Congressional Bill
On February 27, 2018, the House of Representatives passed the “Allow States To Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act” by a vote of 388 to 25. Three weeks later on March 21, 2018, the Senate approved the bill by an overwhelming 97 to 2 vote.
Updates on President Trump’s Policy On Transgender in the U.S. Military
On July 26, 2017, President Donald Trump announced on his Twitter account a reinstatement of a ban on transgender persons from serving in the United States Armed Forces. The President’s full statement reads, “After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity…
Civil Rights; Congressional Bill Supporting Israel A Direct Attack On The First Amendment and Free Speech; Proposed Federal Legislation; March 3, 2018
On March 23, 2017, Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) introduced Senate Bill 720, which was intended to amend the Export Administration Act of 1979. The bill is popularly known as the “Israel Anti – Boycott Act” and was passed in order to “oppose restrictive trade practices or boycotts fostered or imposed by any international organization against Israel or requests to impose restrictive trade practices or boycotts by any international trade organization against Israel.”
Proposed Amendment to the Americans With Disabilities Act – Favoring Businesses Over People
On February 15, 2018, the United States House of Representatives passed bill H.R. 620, popularly known as the Americans With Disabilities (ADA) Education and Reform Act of 2017, by a vote of 225 – 192. The bill seeks to amend the 1990 Americans With Disabilities Act by adding additional procedures that must be met before…
U.S. Department of Justice Closes Legal Aid Unit
On February 1, 2018, numerous media outlets reported that an office of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) – the Office for Access to Justice (ATJ) – was reassigning its personnel and that other services were being rolled back significantly. According to its website, the office was established in March 2010 to “address the…
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau De-emphasizes Racial Discrimination Investigations
On January 30, 2018, Acting Director Mick Mulvaney of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced to staff that he would transfer the Office of Fair Lending and Equal Opportunity (OFLEO) from the Division of Supervision, Enforcement and Fair Lending (SEFL) to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Fairness…
Reversing Obama-Era Regulation That Combats Housing Segregation
The Trump administration is trying to eliminate the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule started by President Obama. The AFFH is a legal requirement that federal agencies and federal grantees further the purposes of the Fair Housing Act. Specifically, this means asking communities that receive Department of Housing…