WASHINGTON – Chairing a Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division on Tuesday, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) underlined the need for continued vigilance at the DOJ in protecting civil rights, and expressed his support for the progress made by the division under the leadership of Assistant Attorney General Tom Perez.
“Especially in the area of hate crimes, we need leaders and members of the community to stand up and say that these abhorrent acts do not represent us and they will not be tolerated,” Senator Coons said, referring in his opening statement to an incident in Delaware earlier this month where a epithet-laced cross was placed in the front yard of an African American family. “That is why we are here today. Congress has an important role to play in oversight of all Executive Branch activities, of course, but when it comes to civil rights, it is critical that both branches are on the same page — that we are working together, hand in hand, to fight for that more perfect union.”
Addressing Assistant Attorney General Perez, the hearing’s lone witness, Senator Coons said, “We’ll work on eradicating discrimination from our laws. We need you, Mr. Perez — and all of those who work in law enforcement — to work on stopping it in our communities.”
Among the topics Senator Coons explored with Attorney General Perez during his questioning were the protection of voting rights for members of the armed forces, the application of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act to prosecute those who commit violence against others because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, and the decline in the pursuit of employment discrimination cases brought under Title VII.
“It has been almost a year and a half since this Committee last conducted oversight of the Civil Rights Division,” Senator Coons said. “Among all of the important work done by the Department of Justice, the work of the Civil Rights Division is uniquely important. The Civil Rights Division is charged with enforcing our laws providing the rights of all citizens, regardless of race, creed, religion, sex or national origin, to participate in civic life. It underpins our entire way of life because, where civil rights are not protected, equality, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are denied.”
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