The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

Civil Rights Act of 2004

In 2004, Sen. Edward Kennedy introduced a bill called Fairness and Individual Rights Necessary to Ensure a Stronger Society: Civil Rights Act of 2004.

The FAIRNESS Act was an effort to counteract the potentially devastating impact of several U.S. Supreme Court decisions regarding civil rights protections. The Court, which recently has ruled against plaintiffs seeking remedies to civil rights violations in schools and in the work place, has made it more difficult for victims of discrimination to gain redress through the courts.

Learn More

• The Facts on FAIRNESS
• Civil Rights Act of 2004: Section by Section
• Civil Rights Act of 2004: Full Text (pdf)

Why You Should Care

• Civil Rights Leaders Speak Out
• The Impact of the Rollback
• Real People, Real Stories

Who Supports FAIRNESS?

• House Co-sponsors
• Senate Co-sponsors
• Organizations Endorsing FAIRNESS

Fact Sheets

• Older Workers - Why do older workers have fewer protections against age discrimination?
• Access to the Courts - How has the Supreme Court restricted your right to sue in court for discrimination?
• Pay Equity - Why are working women still unable to obtain equal pay for equal work?
• Workers - How are workers losing their rights to sue for discrimination and unfair labor practices?
• Effective Remedies - How are victims of discrimination prevented from obtaining full relief and damages?

More Information

• Forty Years After the Civil Rights Act, Movement Leaders Celebrate Progress, Look to Future - 07/01/04
• Civil Rights Coalition Calls for Bi-Partisan Support for New Civil Rights Bill - Press Release - 6/24/04
• Remarks on the 40th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act - Speech by Wade Henderson - 6/24/04
• It's Time to Realize King's Dream: Civil Rights Organizations Call on Congress to Support New Comprehensive Civil Rights Bill - Press Release - 2/11/04
• Sweeping Civil Rights Legislation Reaches Capitol Hill - 2/10/04
• LCCR Launches Yearlong Civil Rights Campaign - Press Release - 1/15/04