The role of the Attorney General is not to protect the interests of the President, but to protect the interests of the nation’s people. Blanche is not an independent law enforcement official. His record, as Deputy and as Acting Attorney General, disqualifies him from Senate confirmation and the Leadership Conference condemns this nomination.
The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) has called on corporate America to affirm its commitment to equal opportunity that supports civil rights laws, voting rights, and equal representation. The Leadership Conference stands with the CBC and joins our voice to this clarion call.
I’d like to get right to the point: we are experiencing a coordinated attack on civil rights non-profits that work to ensure voters can vote, children can learn history, and unions can protect workers. First the Trump administration attacked law firms that provided pro bono services to civil rights and civil liberties groups, foundations that support civil rights work, and colleges and universities working to advance civil rights principles.
Congressional Republicans are aiding and abetting the Department of Justice’s campaign of retribution against civil rights organizations and anyone who dares disagree with them. It began with law firms, universities, and even elected officials, and now extends to civil rights organizations, whose mission is to protect the public, uphold the Constitution, and make sure all Americans are able to enjoy the freedoms that make our country great.
Today’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais is a defining moment for our democracy and a direct test of whether every American has an equal and effective voice in the political process. The Court has taken a dangerous step backward, weakening one of our nation’s most critical civil rights protections. By undermining Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, this decision makes it harder to challenge discriminatory maps and opens the door to further dilution of Black political power and the voices of communities of color.
Maya Wiley, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement in reaction to news of another threat of legal intimidation against a member of the civil rights coalition, the Southern Poverty Law Center, as retaliation for doing the important work of protecting people from hate and discrimination
We're fighting for justice. For police accountability. For immigrant rights. For economic security. For fair courts. For voting rights. We're fighting relentlessly to fulfill the promise of our democracy.