Civil Rights Groups Met with Grace Chung Becker to Raise Election Protection Concerns

Media 09.9.08

Washington, DC – Wade Henderson, president of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, released the following statement on questions surrounding a recent meeting among civil rights groups and Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division nominee Grace Chung Becker.


“We’re uncomfortable with the suggestion that because civil rights groups met with Grace Chung Becker it was somehow an endorsement. We seek to have conversations with all nominees to appointments that affect civil rights. This is not unusual.


Talk is just talk unless it’s followed up with meaningful action.


We saw real problems in both the 2000 and 2004 elections. We need to know that Grace Chung Becker and the Justice Department have a system in place to be responsive to complaints of intimidation and improper activity. We need an action plan from this administration and the Department of Justice that will ensure voters in November have the protections that all Americans deserve and that the law provides.”