DOJ to Abandon Thousands of Americans by Gutting Critical Resources
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mattie Goldman, [email protected]
WASHINGTON — Maya Wiley, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement in response to the Justice Department’s cancellation of hundreds of grants to organizations, including for gun violence prevention programs, hate crime prevention and response, victim support, and efforts to combat opioid addiction:
“It doesn’t matter whether you live in a city, suburb, or a rural area. We all agree that people should feel safe in their communities, have access to treatment if they have addictions, and be able to get support if they are a victim of crime. By cancelling contracts to the organizations that deliver for communities, the Department of Justice is going to make people less safe and less supported. We leave people more vulnerable when we cut lifesaving community initiatives, from supporting the National Center for Victims of Crime hotline, to connecting with communities often targeted for hate crimes who have been reluctant to come to local authorities, and strengthening relationships between law enforcement and the communities they represent.
“This decision also has the chilling effect of weakening and silencing the organizations that meet people’s needs every day because the administration doesn’t agree with their work. This is dangerous for people who have the right to a voice and who are in need, especially low-income people, women, people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ people.
“Americans believe in caring for each other, and that caring is under attack. We need people in every ZIP code and from every background to unite and demand the resources communities need to thrive. The America we want — one that is safer, healthier, and more just — depends on effective programs like these. We cannot and will not stay silent as they are dismantled.”
Earlier this week, The Leadership Conference launched The Pact: A Civil Rights Coalition Unity Commitment, a mutual support agreement among civil rights organizations in response to escalating threats by the Trump administration that target nonprofit organizations and their constituents. The Pact follows a series of coordinated actions by the civil rights community, including an open letter to the American people, a pledge to take action, and 170+ rallies, marches, and public events, including the State of the People POWER Tour and May Day protests.
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 240 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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