Civil Rights News & Articles

• Protecting Voting Rights and Preventing Election Fraud
  usdoj.gov, Jul 08, 2008
  One of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) highest priorities is to protect voting rights and enforce specific federal laws that help to ensure that all qualified voters
  
  
• Former Foreign Service Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Charges
  usdoj.gov, Jun 16, 2008
  W. Patrick Syring, a former foreign service officer with the U.S. Department of State, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Washington, D.C., to federal civil rights
  
  
• Protecting the Right to Vote
  civilrights.org, May 30, 2008
  The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing to examine some of the barriers that may keep Americans from exercising their right to vote.
  
  
• Justice Department to Monitor Election in Pennsylvania
  usdoj.gov, Apr 21, 2008
  The Justice Department announced today that on April 22, 2008, it will monitor the presidential primary election in the Philadelphia, Pa., to ensure compliance
  
  
• Justice Department Reaches Settlement with University of Michigan Concerning Football Stadium’s Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities
  U.S Department of Justice, Mar 11, 2008
  The Justice Department announced today that it has resolved a lawsuit against the University of Michigan under the Americans with Disabilities Act
  
  
• New York State Division of Human Rights Files Nation’s First Civil Rights Actions Against Tax Preparation Companies For Predatory Lending Practices Targeted to Communities of Color and Military Families
  State of NY, Feb 12, 2008
  The New York State Division of Human Rights today filed civil rights actions against Jackson Hewitt and Liberty Tax Service for these companies’ predatory lending practic
  
  
• Justice Department to Monitor Election in Mississippi
  US Department of Justice, Jan 15, 2008
  Justice Department to Monitor Election in Mississippi
  
  
• Justice Department Settles Housing Discrimination Case with Orange County, California, Landlords
  U.S Department of Justice, Jan 09, 2008
  The Justice Department today announced that it has reached an agreement resolving a housing discrimination lawsuit against Gary Luke
  
  
• Justice Department Obtains Court Approval to Distribute $700,000 in Fair Housing Lawsuit
  US Department of Justice, Dec 18, 2007
  Justice Department Obtains Court Approval to Distribute $700,000 in Fair Housing Lawsuit
  
  
• Three Former Milwaukee Police Officers Sentenced on Civil Rights-related Charges
  Department of Justice, Dec 11, 2007
  Three Former Milwaukee Police Officers Sentenced on Civil Rights-related Charges
  
  
• HUD Charges Alabama Landlord with Violating Fair Housing Act
  US Department of Housing and Urban Development , Dec 04, 2007
  Owner allegedly refused to rent home to an African-American man
  
  
• Former Val Verde County, Texas, Corrections Officer Indicted on Federal Civil Rights Charges
  Department of Justice, Nov 27, 2007
  Indictment charging former Val Verde County Detention Center corrections officer Emmanuel Cassio with federal civil rights violations
  
  
• Indiana Man Pleads Guilty to Cross Burning
  FBI, Nov 20, 2007
  Kyle Shroyer pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to violate the civil rights of a woman and her three biracial children
  
  
• Steven Chavez Appointed New Director of Colorado Civil Rights Division
  Colorado State Office, Oct 30, 2007
  The Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD) is charged with enforcing the state's anti-discrimination laws in the areas of employment, housing, and public accommodation
  
  
• State Assembly Passes Civil Rights Act of 2007
  California State Assembly Democratic Caucus, Oct 23, 2007
  The State Assembly approved by a vote of 46-29 the Civil Rights Act of 2007, a bill authored by Assemblymember John Laird
  
  
• House Affirms Basic Right to Marry
  Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, Oct 16, 2007
  House of Representatives by unanimous consent commemorating the fortieth anniversary of the Loving v. Virginia decision that ended the ban on interracial marriage
  
  
• Steven Chaveaz Appointed New Director of Colorado Civil Rights Division
  Colorado Governor Office, Oct 09, 2007
  Chavez will lead the division of 31 employees in enforcing discrimination laws throughout the state, including protecting consumers against housing, employment and public
  
  
• Agreement will make Subway Shops Accessible to Individuals with Disabilities
  U.S. Department of Justice, Aug 31, 2007
  The DOJ announced a comprehensive settlement agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act with Doctor Associates Inc.
  
  
• Developers and Architects Found Liable for Non Accessible Apartment Complexes
  U.S. Department of Justice, Aug 23, 2007
  Two federal courts found developers and architects liable for violating the Fair Housing Act by building housing without required accessible features.
  
  
• Americans with Disabilities Act Findings Encouraging
  National Council of Disability, Aug 21, 2007
  The NCD released two reports on the Americans with Disabilities Act that show that ADA implementation is not only possible an it is also good for business.
  
  
• Subway Franchise to Pay For Disability Bias
  EEOC, Aug 01, 2007
  Former Area Supervisor with Hearing Impairment Wins Harassment Case.
  
  
• Agents Arrest Former Corrections Officer on Sexual Misconduct Charge
  Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Jul 27, 2007
  Agents have charged a former state corrections officer with sexual misconduct after he allegedly had sex with an inmate in a South Florida prison.
  
  
• EEOC and Walgreens Resolve Lawsuit
  EEOC, Jul 26, 2007
  The EEOC announced a twenty million dollars proposed consent decree resolving a systemic race discrimination lawsuit against Walgreens.
  
  
• Landlord Violating the Fair Housing Act
  HUD, Jul 16, 2007
  Disabled child allegedly denied use of service animal.
  
  
• HUD Charges Philadelphia Landlord
  HUD, Jul 16, 2007
  Couple with child allegedly denied an apartment.
  
  
• Governor Announces Project Targeting Racial Disparity
  The State of Kentucky, Jul 02, 2007
  Governor Ernie Fletcher and leaders from the CHFS announced a comprehensive project to target racial disproportionality in the child welfare system.
  
  
• Legislature Protects Veterans From Discrimination
  The State of Washington, Jun 25, 2007
  A new law passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor protects veterans from discrimination in employment housing and public accommodations.
  
  
• HUD Settles Parking Accessibility Case for Ten Thousand Dollars
  HUD, Jun 18, 2007
  N.J. apartment owner and property manager agree to settle a disability discrimination complaint.
  
  
• Elizabeth Peratrovich Day
  State of Alaska, Jun 11, 2007
  The State of Alaska is recognizing Elizabeth Peratrovich Day to bring attention to the contributions made by this Native woman to end discrimination of Natives.
  
  
• Housing Discrimination Complaints At An All Time High
  HUD, Jun 06, 2007
  Over ten thousand complaints filed last year, most alleged race or disability discrimination.
  
  
• 900 Thousand Dollars Paid For Race Bias
  U.S. EEOC, May 30, 2007
  A New York geriatric center will pay 900,000 to settle a class race and national origin discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. EEOC.
  
  
• HUD Charges Virgina Beach Landlord With Violating Fair Housing Act
  HUD, May 24, 2007
  Dr. James Crockett Henry charged with violating the Fair Housing Act by allegedly subjecting African American tenants to stricter rules than others
  
  
• House Committee Passes Federal Hate Crimes Bill
  House of Representative, May 18, 2007
  Hate crimes have been and continue to be a very serious problem in our society. The incidence of hate violence in the United States has a long and shameful history
  
  
• Michigan Civil Rights On Pay Equity
  State of Michigan, May 03, 2007
  Commission felt compelled to reiterate its past statement as pay equity is still a pressing concern in Michigan
  
  
• Progress Toward Voting Equality
  Commission of Civil Rights, Apr 10, 2007
  Provisions to remedy immediate and egregious voter discrimination which was denying
  
  
• Civil Rights Issues Facing Arab Americans In Michigan
  State of Michigan, Mar 28, 2007
  Forms of discrimination may include a denial to Arab American immigrants
  
  
• Facts About Hate Crimes
  usdoj.gov, Feb 23, 2007
  Hate crimes are crimes committed against individuals or institutions because of their race, ethnic background or religion. Other federal laws prohibit church burnings. In
  
  
• Top Ivy League Schools Elect More Women As President
  CivilRightsLawFirms.com, Feb 23, 2007
  For the past 371 years, Harvard university has been ran by men only. This changed when last year's president Lawrence Summers resigned. Harvard decided it was time to joi
  
  
• Former MBN Agents Sentenced For Using Excessive Force Against Two Jackson Men
  US Department of Justice, Feb 12, 2007
  Former Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics agents were sentenced for using excessive force to violate the civil rights of two motorists they assaulted during an unjustified
  
  
• Two Officers Plead Guilty on Civil Rights Charges
  US Department of Justice, Feb 01, 2007
  Two former supervisors at the Winston-Choctaw County Regional Correctional Facility pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges relating to physical assaults on prisoners
  
  
• Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Charges
  US Department of Justice, Jan 23, 2007
  An Ohio man pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit and for committing hate crimes targeting African-American residents of Cleveland
  
  
• New York City Man Pleads Guilty to Human Trafficking Charge
  US Department of Justice, Jan 17, 2007
  A man from Queens pleaded guilty to attempting to recruit a Korean woman whom he believed to be a minor to work as a prostitute
  
  
• US Department of Labor Forms Alliance with SHRM
  US Department of Labor, Jan 03, 2007
  The new relationship will target areas in training and education and it will promote a national dialogue on the employment of persons with disabilities
  
  
• Civil Rights Bill Will Remedy Nondiscrimination Deficiencies in State Law
  assembly.ca.gov, Dec 29, 2006
  AB 14 ensures that 51 nondiscrimination provisions are consistent with the Unruh Civil Rights Act and a Government Code provision that applies to state-funded programs
  
  
• Civil Rights Charges Filed Against Former Boonsboro Police Officer
  usdoj.gov, Dec 15, 2006
  Threats he made against African American students at two Hagerstown high schools, and against an African American woman living in Hagerstown
  
  
• Ex L.A. Sheriff Who Violated Civil Rights Sentenced
  fbi.gov, Dec 01, 2006
  The evidence at trial showed that Gonzalez pulled over one woman for an alleged traffic violation, drove her to a secluded location, and raped her
  
  
• USCCR To Probe Impending Division Of Omaha School District By Race
  usccr.gov, Nov 17, 2006
  One district will be predominantly African American, another will be chiefly Hispanic, with the third being primarily white.
  
  
• Ohio Man Pleads Guilty To Civil Rights Charges
  usdoj.gov, Nov 03, 2006
  The indictment charges that the defendants placed a toxic substance, mercury, on the porch of an inter-racial family with children.
  
  
• Burning A Cross In Front Of The Home Of An African-American Man
  US Dept. of Justice, Oct 03, 2006
  Attended a party where they discussed an African-American man who lived nearby, using racial slurs to describe him
  
  
• Alabama Board of Education Sexual Discrimination In The Workplace
  Dept. of Justice, Aug 15, 2006
  A sexually hostile work environment and retaliated against her by terminating her employment for complaining about what she reasonable believed to be sexual harassment ag
  
  
• Advocate Disability Rights For Making NJ Sidewalks Accessible
  Dept. of Justice, Aug 01, 2006
  The advocacy agency asked the court to reject this view and rule that public entities regardless of size have an obligation to install curb cuts to provide access
  
  
• President Bush On Same Sex Marriage
  whitehouse.gov, Jun 27, 2006
  but she had asked if there were any gay participants in the meeting with the President and the answer is, no.
  
  
• California Civil Right Bill To Include People of Discrimination In School Books
  info.sen.ca.gov, May 25, 2006
  To Include the contributions of people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender to the economic, political, and social development of California and the U.S.
  
  
• Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Approves Collins-Wyden Civil Rights Legislation
  senate, Feb 27, 2006
  would ensure that officials within the Department of Homeland Security have the ability to balance public safety with the civil right and liberties that are so important
  
  
• EPA Seeks Comment On Title VI Proposal
  EPA, Feb 27, 2006
  EPA’s Title VI regulations prohibit actions that either intentionally discriminate or have the effect of discriminating.
  
  
• Grassley Advances Civil Rights Tax Reform
  senate, Feb 27, 2006
  Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today won near-final passage of reforms to end unfair taxation in civil rights cases.
  
  
• Civil Rights Act Anniversary a Celebration of Independence
  house, Feb 27, 2006
  House Democratic Caucus Vice Chair James E. Clyburn issued the following statement on the eve of the 40th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act just three days before Ameri
  
  
• Riverside School Renamed In Honor Of City Native T. Morris Chester, Famed African American Civil War-Era Journalist, Attorney And Civil Rights Activist
  State of PA, Feb 14, 2006
  One of Harrisburg’s most famous African American forefathers was recognized today by Mayor Stephen R. Reed and the Harrisburg School District as the Riverside Elementary
  
  
• Assistant Attorney General For The Civil Rights Division
  usdoj.gov, Feb 14, 2006
  Bradley J. Schlozman, Acting Assistant Attorney General For The Civil Rights Division
  
  
• The Ringleader In The Department’s Largest
  Enter Source, Feb 14, 2006
  The Ringleader In The Department’s Largest Ever Human Trafficking Prosecution
  
  
• Division To The United States Attorney For Trial
  usdoj.gov, Feb 14, 2006
  Assistant Attorney General Of The Civil Rights Division To The United States Attorney For Trial
  
  
• Ohio Public Defender Files Civil Rights Lawsuit Challenging Ohio’s Lethal Injection Procedure
  State of OH, Feb 14, 2006
  The lawsuit was filed on behalf of two Ohio death row inmates, Adremy Dennis and Richard W. Cooey, II.
  
  
• Two Men Plead Guilty In Kentucky Cross Burning Case
  FBI.gov, Feb 14, 2006
  The Justice Department today announced that two men pleaded guilty to civil rights charges for their roles in a Burlington, Kentucky cross burning.
  
  
• Grassley Praises Senate Passage Of IRS Whistleblower Help, Civil Rights Tax Reform, Charitable Giving Reform, Ban On Deduction Of Government Fines,
  senate, Feb 14, 2006
  a ban on companies' deduction of fines and penalties paid to the government for wrongdoing; and a provision related to
  
  
• 7th Annual Kingsley Heritage Celebration, The Power of Faith
  nps, Feb 14, 2006
  African American slaves in the fight for freedom and civil rights will be offered at Kingsley Plantation on Saturday, October 30, 2004, in Jacksonville, Florida.
  
  
• Human Rights and Opportunities Commission Appoints New Director
  State of CT, Feb 14, 2006
  Ingram has 30 years of civil rights experience and will assume his new duties on August 16, 2004.
  
  
• Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg And New York City Commission On Women's Issues Celebrates Women's History Month
  State of NY, Feb 14, 2006
  Honoring Eleven Women Exemplifying this Year's Theme: 'Women Inspiring Hope and Possibility'
  
  
• Wallingford Attorney Reappointed as Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities
  State of CT, Feb 14, 2006
  This is Attorney Bzdyra’s second reappointment to the top spot of the civil rights agency’s nine-member policy-making body. Governor Rowland first appointed Attorney Bzdy
  
  
• Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC) To Host Panel On Bridging The Gap For Minorities Housing, Education
  OCRC, Feb 14, 2006
  Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC) To Host Panel Focusing On The Next Steps In Bridging The Gap For Minorities Housing, Education
  
  
• USCCR Briefing On Voting And Election Reform
  USCCR, Feb 14, 2006
  USCCR Briefing On Voting And Election Reform
  
  
• US Court Convicts Indonesian On Civil Law Violation
  Press Release, Feb 27, 2005
  US Court Convicts Indonesian on Civil Law Violation
  
  
• New Chairman for Heller Ehrman
  Press Release, Feb 27, 2005
  New Chairman for Heller Ehrman
  
  
• Schiff Receives Top Ratings From Two Civil Rights Groups
  house, Nov 02, 2004
  NAACP AND LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ON CIVIL RIGHTS GIVE SCHIFF VOTING RECORD ‘A’ RATING
  
  

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