Kristen Clarke is the Civil Rights Leader We Need at the Justice Department

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Stephen Peters, [email protected], 202.466.1887

WASHINGTON — Wade Henderson, interim president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, released the below statement following today’s Senate confirmation hearing of Kristen Clarke to be assistant attorney general for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Justice:

“Kristen Clarke has once again shown that her experience and proven commitment to equality and fairness make her the absolute best choice to run the civil rights division. Clarke has dedicated her entire career to the pursuit of equal justice under the law for all communities, including communities of color facing racial and sex discrimination, the LGBTQ community, and religious minorities targeted because of their beliefs. She is ready to serve. There is no question that the Senate must quickly confirm Clarke.”

Kristen Clarke would be the first woman — and the first Black woman — in history to be confirmed to lead the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. In February, The Leadership Conference released a letter signed by more than 100 civil and human rights organizations in support of Clarke’s nomination. A wide range of leaders and organizations have also submitted letters of support. Those letters are available here. 

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 220 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 member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

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