Civil and Human Rights Coalition Urges No Vote on Betsy DeVos

WASHINGTON—Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement in advance of a vote on the Betsy DeVos nomination for U.S. Department of Education:

“In the entire history of the Department of Education, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights has never opposed an Education Secretary nominee, until Betsy DeVos. But no nominee has ever been as unfit to lead one of the nation’s most important civil rights agencies as she has proven to be.

Opposition is so deep and widespread that the Capitol switchboards have had their busiest days ever taking calls from concerned parents and constituents who don’t want DeVos in charge of their children’s education.

Today’s historically close vote will determine whether senators vote with their constituents or with President Trump.

DeVos has done nothing to demonstrate that she’s qualified to be the Secretary of Education or that she understands and is committed to enforcing the department’s civil rights obligations. She’s never been a public school student, parent, supporter, or worked in a public school or school system in any capacity and if the Senate doesn’t want to be President Trump’s doormat for the next four years, they’ll vote for children.”

Wade Henderson is the president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org. 

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