Education Equity
Fighting to protect the civil rights of all students in America — regardless of background or zip code
Acts of hate touch every community and threaten to undermine the most basic tenets of our democracy. And hate is on the rise. New research found that hate crimes reached their highest number in a decade after increasing for four straight years.
But the data understate the true volume of violence against a diverse set of communities impacted directly by hate. Nearly 90 percent of the nation’s law enforcement agencies do not submit hate crimes to the FBI. Additionally, we know that victims and survivors may be fearful of authorities and thus, not report the crimes to law enforcement. That means our understanding of the magnitude and nature of the crisis is dangerously limited — even as the crisis worsens.
To take on this problematic gap in data, The Leadership Conference Education Fund launched Communities Against Hate, in partnership with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and a diverse array of organizations to document stories and respond to incidents of violence, threats, and property damage motivated by hate in America. Communities Against Hate provides a safe place for survivors and witnesses to share stories of hate incidents through an online database and telephone hotline.
As the Trump administration fans the flames of nationalism and prejudice through rhetoric and alarming policies, we will not lose hope. We will continue working with communities impacted by hate to fight back and build a safe, diverse, and inclusive America.
Get Involved
Together, we have the power to confront the forces of hate, celebrate the dignity of every person, and move our nation toward its highest ideals of fairness and inclusion. Learn more about our campaigns and projects to fight hate and bigotry.
What Is the State of Hate?
Our report, Hate Magnified: Communities in Crisis, documents where hate incidents occur, which communities are most likely to experience hate incidents, and what form those incidents most often take. The report findings underscore the need for better data collection, comprehensive policy reform, and widespread support for combating hate incidents.
Alarmingly, our data show that nearly 40 percent of those perpetrating hate incidents invoked the name of an alt-right hate group, President Trump, or Trump-related rhetoric.
Data excerpts from the report:
PERCENTAGE OF REPORTED INCIDENTS INVOLVING INVOCATIONS OF POLITICAL RHETORIC AND/OR ALT-RIGHT OR WHITE SUPREMACIST HATE GROUPS
FIGURE 1. ACTION IN INCIDENT CODED FREQUENCIES FROM THE CAH HATE INCIDENTS DATABASE
FIGURE 2. OVERALL EXPERIENCE OF HATE
FIGURE 3A. EXPERIENCE WITH EXPRESSIONS OR INCIDENTS OF HATE - TOTAL ACROSS ALL RESPONDENTS
FIGURE 3B. EXPERIENCE WITH EXPRESSIONS OR INCIDENTS OF HATE - TOTAL VS BLACK RESPONDENTS
FIGURE 3C. EXPERIENCE WITH EXPRESSIONS OR INCIDENTS OF HATE - TOTAL VS HISPANIC RESPONDENTS
FIGURE 3D. EXPERIENCE WITH EXPRESSIONS OR INCIDENTS OF HATE - TOTAL VS ARAB / MIDDLE EASTERN RESPONDENTS
Hate Crimes Task Force
Our task force is comprised of coalition members who have expertise in hate crimes and defending civil and human rights. Together, we developed a comprehensive list of priority legislative initiatives that represent a path forward to ending hate and promoting unified action, reconciliation, and national healing. Our country’s leadership must honor equal protection for all people, view our diversity as a strength, and strive to be a country where all people can safely and freely live, work, and participate in their communities.
Latest News
The Leadership Conference Calls for Hate Crimes Investigation, Condemns Hate and Political Violence
WASHINGTON – Maya Wiley, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, released the following statement on the attack on protestors at Columbia University:
America should be a place where every child, no matter their unique circumstances, can grow up to be what they dream. And yet our nation continues to create discriminatory barriers that unfairly limit or deny educational opportunity.
At The Leadership Conference, we work to transform public education so that all young people can attend safe, inclusive, and resourced schools that prepare them for successful futures. We also aim to transform education decision-making at the local, state, and federal levels so that diverse and intersectional voices drive reform.
Educational equity is a civil and human right. That’s why our coalition is leading a coordinated effort to protect the rights and safety of students with disabilities, survivors of sexual assault on campuses, students of color, and other vulnerable communities to ensure every student in America can forge the best path to their future.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
– Nelson Mandela
Recent Resources
Published by The Leadership Conference Education Fund in collaboration with member organizations of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Latest News
Celebrating 50 Years of Lau v. Nichols
The work continues to ensure an equitable education system for all.
The Leadership Conference Applauds Department of Education Toolkit on Voter Registration
WASHINGTON — Leslie Proll, senior director of the voting rights program at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and Yterenickia 'YT' Bell, senior director of the And Still I Vote program, released the following statement celebrating the U.S. Department of Education’s toolkit for promoting civic engagement and voter registration activities for students.
90+ Civil Rights Groups Call for Robust Funding for Education Civil Rights Office to Protect Students
WASHINGTON — The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, along with 91 national and local advocacy organizations, called on President Biden and congressional appropriators to double the funding for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR). OCR cannot fulfill its responsibility to protect the civil rights of all students without adequate resources.
Education Task Force
The Education Task Force works to ensure children in grades K-12 and students in higher education experience positive school climates, are safe in their academic environment, and have equitable access to high-quality educational services. Together, the members of the task force developed a comprehensive list of priority legislative initiatives that strive to protect and expand students’ civil rights, as well as remove barriers to education for historically marginalized students.
Letter: Double the Funding for the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights ›
Take Action
Every student deserves a safe, inclusive, and resourced education that is free from discrimination. Here are a few ways to make your voice heard in the movement for education equity.