FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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BALTIMORE, MD – Today, to launch the “Liberty, Justice, and Opportunity for All” campaign, Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, together with the Progressive State Leaders Committee and other partner organizations, have released the following statement:
“Civil rights are fundamental rights that guarantee every person equal access to employment, education, and services, and that protect all people, regardless of who they are, from discrimination and disenfranchisement. Generations fought to secure these rights for their fellow Americans and enshrine them in our federal and state laws and our Constitution. And since our country’s inception, its founding principle has been ‘E pluribus unum,’ meaning ‘out of many, one.’ In other words, our society was built on a bedrock understanding that it contained multitudes.
“Yet, with more than 340 million people in America representing a variety of races, ethnicities, nationalities, genders, and religions, there are still those who seek to discriminate, disenfranchise, and harm people who don’t look or think like they do. And for the first time in generations, progress toward a more fair and just society is receding under the weight of sustained attacks on the core American values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
“These attacks include dismantling landmark voting rights laws, abandoning policies that prohibit segregation by federal contractors (which include many of our nation’s largest companies), attacking academic freedom and freedom of speech at educational institutions under the guise of ‘protecting’ these freedoms, threatening companies and organizations that embrace equal opportunity with expensive, burdensome, and unfounded legal action, and refusing to enforce hard-fought agreements aimed at reducing discrimination. These attacks on civil rights make us less safe and less secure and make our country less fair and less democratic.
“Many people don’t realize the harm that the denial of civil rights inflicts on the average American. Or that diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are not code words designed to exclude people, but values designed to remove real barriers to ensure that everyone can achieve their full potential without undue obstruction.
“Despite their inherent value and continued necessity, fundamental civil rights laws and the ideals of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility remain at risk. We all share responsibility for the protection and continued implementation of civil rights laws and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility principles because living in a society that values everyone benefits everyone.
“The undersigned state attorneys general and organizations have joined together in recognition of the importance of this moment to speak loudly and with one voice to protect the gains our ancestors fought for by announcing the launch of the ‘Liberty, Justice, and Opportunity for All’ campaign.
“The ‘Liberty, Justice, and Opportunity for All’ campaign offers people across the country opportunities to connect and collaborate with state leaders and organizations that share a commitment to protect our access to fair and equitable systems and economic and educational opportunities.
“The fabric of America is exemplified by diversity, richly woven with threads of varied backgrounds, interests, and ideals. ‘Liberty, Justice, and Opportunity for All’ will give everyone the opportunity to add their unique thread to the tapestry of our country.”
For a full list of signees, click here.
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