Opposition to Marcus ED OCR Nomination Grows: Ahead of Senate Action, 61 Civil Rights Groups Sign Letter of Opposition

WASHINGTON— Today, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights sent a letter signed by 61 civil rights groups to the U.S. Senate urging senators to vote against confirming Kenneth Marcus to serve as Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education.

The letter builds on one sent in January by 31 civil rights organizations and reflects growing opposition to the controversial nominee.

The signatories urge the Senate to vote against his confirmation because Marcus “has not demonstrated a willingness and ability to enforce civil rights law and protect all students in our country from discrimination.” The letter includes examples of the ways in which Marcus’ “own record of anti-civil rights positions and his failure to articulate clear support for robust civil rights enforcement during his confirmation hearing are all the more troubling given the anti-civil rights actions of Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and President Trump.”

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights would score a Marcus confirmation vote in its annual Voting Record.

The letter can be read in its entirety here.

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The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is 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.