US Civil Rights Commission Schedules Nov 2 Hearing to Evaluate Federal Enforcement of Civil Rights

As shared by the US Commission on Civil Rights:

Friday, November 2, 2018

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Expert Panels

5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Public Comment

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 1150

Washington, DC 20425

(Entrance on F St. NW). Livestream information available at the bottom of the article.

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights [an independent, bipartisan, fact-finding federal agency established in 1957] will hold a public briefing to evaluate federal civil rights enforcement, examining in particular Fiscal Years 2016 through 2018. With this assessment, the Commission asks: what are the key elements for effective civil rights enforcement? Do federal agencies have sufficient resources to fulfill their enforcement responsibilities? Most importantly, is the federal government satisfying its obligation to the American people to protect and vindicate their civil rights, including in education, housing, healthcare, employment, policing, the justice system, and other areas?

Commissioners will hear from current and former senior federal government officials, academic and legal experts, and advocates. We will also offer an open comment session in which members of the public will be able to address the Commission. We will offer an open comment session in which members of the public will be able to address the Commission. Detailed information on this open comment session will be announced on the Commission’s website (www.usccr.gov), Twitter (www.twitter.com/USCCRgov), and Facebook (www.facebook.com/USCCRgov/) in advance of the briefing.

In addition, the Commission welcomes the submission of additional material for consideration as we prepare our report. Please submit such information to [email protected] no later than December 17, 2018.

The Commission will issue a report from this investigation in fall 2019, including findings and recommendations.

Are Rights A Reality? Evaluating Federal Civil Rights Enforcement

Introductory Remarks: Chair Catherine E. Lhamon

9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.

Panel One: Current and Former Federal Agency Officials, Larger Civil Rights Offices

9:10 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.

Panel Two: Current and Former Federal Agency Officials, Smaller Civil Rights Offices

10:50 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.

Panel Three: Advocates and Community Experts in Civil Rights Enforcement

1:10 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Panel Four: Academics and Legal Experts in Civil Rights Enforcement

2:40 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Open Public Comment Session

5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

This briefing is open to the public. The event will also live-stream at https://www.youtube.com/user/USCCR/videos. (Please note that streaming information is subject to change.) If attending in person, we ask that you RSVP to[email protected].  Persons with disabilities who need accommodation should contact Pamela Dunston at 202-376-8105 or at [email protected]at least seven (7) business days before the date of the meeting.