United States Commission on Civil Rights

January 2024 Newsletter

“Language accessibility is critical for communicating with impacted communities. We know that language barriers prevent the reporting of hate crimes or incidents, such as racial slurs or being spat on. The translation of these materials shows the Commission’s commitment to increasing accessibility for the Asian-American community,” said Commission Chair, Rochelle Mercedes Garza.

Based on extensive research, expert testimony, and public testimony, the report assesses the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in the U.S. from 2019 through 2021, and the federal role in preventing and enforcing federal hate crime laws.

Advisory Committees have recently examined the following cases:

The Massachusetts Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights recently released a report regarding civil asset forfeiture. The committee undertook an investigation of this practice that included analysis of individual and aggregated cases, findings from independent researchers, testimony from non-governmental experts in non-profit organizations, and elected officials with a wide range of experience within the system of civil asset forfeiture in the state.

The Nevada Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights recently released a report regarding teacher and professional staff shortages and equity in education. The focus of the Committee’s inquiry was to examine whether shortages of teachers and other education professionals create inequities in the areas of access, quality of teaching, student learning, and student discipline. In addition, the Committee examined whether long-term substitute teachers and education professionals have access to sufficient training. While other important topics may have surfaced throughout the Committee’s inquiry, matters that are outside the scope of this specific civil rights mandate are left for another discussion.

SAVE THE DATE 2/22/2024:

CSSBMB Business Meeting  

Join the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys (CSSBMB) for its Second Quarter Business Meeting – exploring commission business and next steps.

Stay up to date by following (@CSSBMB_) and Chairwoman Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (@RepWilson) on Facebook, Instagram, and X. 

COMMISSION IN THE NEWS

• https://unherd.com/thepost/california-voters-turning-against-immigration/
• https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/illinois-creates-task-force-to-review-dramatic-increase-in-pretrial-release-appeals/
• https://www.ydr.com/story/opinion/readers/2024/01/12/southern-pa-school-board-wants-to-bring-back-old-warriors-logo/72188017007/
• https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2024/01/the-new-southern-york-county-school-board-violated-the-sunshine-law-in-reinstating-the-indian-warhead-as-mascot-opinion.html
• https://delawarelive.com/bill-banning-paying-disabled-less-takes-effect/

ADVISORY COMMITTEES IN THE NEWS

• https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2024/01/20/president-clinton-denies-affair-electric-costs-jump-news-journal-archives-week-of-jan-21/72242551007/
• https://www.greenwichtime.com/opinion/article/opinion-why-greenwich-needs-talk-equity-access-18605268.php
• https://www.mississippifreepress.org/38689/epa-promised-to-address-environmental-racism-then-states-pushed-back

The Civil Rights Act of 1957 created the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Established as an independent, bipartisan, fact-finding federal agency, our mission is to inform the development of national civil rights policy and enhance enforcement of federal civil rights laws. We pursue this mission by studying alleged deprivations of voting rights and alleged discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or in the administration of justice. We play a vital role in advancing civil rights through objective and comprehensive investigation, research, and analysis on issues of fundamental concern to the federal government and the public.