Sohn Withdrawal Is Setback for Civil Rights

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mattie Goldman, [email protected]

WASHINGTON — Maya Wiley, president and CEO of the The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement on the withdrawal of Gigi Sohn’s nomination for FCC commissioner:

“The withdrawal of Gigi Sohn’s nomination to serve as commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), after 16 months of baseless attacks, is a huge loss for our civil and human rights coalition and the communities we represent. A champion of the issues we care about so deeply and the first member of the LGBTQ+ community to be nominated to the FCC, Gigi Sohn was an exemplary, history-making nominee for this position and should have been swiftly confirmed.

“At a time when access to reliable, diverse news and information, as well as affordable broadband and communications, is more critical than ever, the gridlock that the FCC has endured for more than two years is inexcusable. We urge the Biden administration to immediately nominate and the Senate to confirm another individual who can ensure the FCC carries out a pro-civil rights agenda — one that includes universal broadband access, strong rules addressing digital discrimination, and more — that can help make the promise of advanced communications a reality for more people in the United States.”

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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