The CIVIL RIGHTS MONITOR is a quarterly publication that reports on civil rights issues pending before the three branches of government. The Monitor also provides a historical context within which to assess current civil rights issues. Back issues of the Monitor are available through this site. Browse or search the archives
Volume 11 No 4
Supreme Court Limits the Scope of the Americans With Disablities Act (ADA)
On February 21, 2001, the Supreme Court issued a 5-4 decision in a disability discrimination case, University of Alabama Board of Trustees v. Garrett, severely limiting the scope of the ADA as applied to state employees. On February 22, 2001, LCCR issued a statement regarding the Garrett decision, which read, in part: "The Leadership Conference abhors discrimination in all forms. Discrimination based upon disability, particularly by a state, is absolutely intolerable."
Inside.....
From the top
On February 21, 2001, the Supreme Court issued a 5-4 decision in a disability discrimination case, University of Alabama Board of Trustees v. Garrett, ruling that State employees cannot sue their employers for damages under the ADA.
Looking back at the last term of the Supreme Court:
Supreme Court Rules School Sponsored Prayer Unconstitutional
On June 19, 2000, in the case of Santa Fe Independent School District v. Jane Doe (99-62), the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that a Texas public school district's practice of opening high school football games with a prayer is unconstitutional.
Supreme Court Grants Boy Scouts Right to Exclude Gays
On June 28, 2000, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the Boy Scouts of America can discriminate against gay men and boys by prohibiting them from becoming or remaining members.
Supreme Court Upholds Publicly Funded Equiptment for Private Schools
On June 28, 2000, in the case of Mitchell v. Helms, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to allow a Louisiana school district to use public funds to purchase computers and other 'instructional equipment' for private and religious schools.
Leadership Conference Special Projects and Activities:
Civil Rights Communications and Internet Technology Forum
On Thursday, September 7, 2000, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and the Leadership Conference Education Fund hosted their inaugural Civil Rights Communications and Internet Technology Forum, "From Digital Disconnect to Digital Opportunity: Building a More Equitable Society Through Leadership, Investment and Collaboration."
Communications Policy Agenda
The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights has developed a framework for a Civil Rights E-Agenda to guide the coalition's work in the 107th Congress.
A Briefing on Substinence and Other Native Issues
A Briefing on Substinence and Other Native Issues On September 20, 2000, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, in conjunction with the Alaska Federation of Natives hosted a national forum in Washington, DC, spotlighting the struggle for Self-Determination in the Twenty-First Century.
United Against Hate.Org
On July 19, 2000, the Leadership Conference along with several family members of recent hate crime victims and civil rights advocates launched unitedagainsthate.org, a grassroots internet campaign to promote passage of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
Partners Against Hate: A National Hate Crime Prevention and Intervention Program
LCEF, in partnership with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Center for the Study and Prevention of Hate Violence (Center), has received funding from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to develop and implement Partners Against Hate.
Civil Rights Summer: A Fellowship for Emerging Social Justice Leaders
In the summer of 2001, LCEF will launch a new national leadership development program in civil rights for college students. Civil Rights Summer - A Fellowship for Emerging Social Justice Leaders (CRS) is designed to place contemporary and future social justice struggles within a national and historical context.
Update on commUNITY 2000
CommUNITY 2000, a two-year HUD-funded collaborative initiative of the Leadership Conference Education Fund (LCEF), the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), and local advocacy groups, has been conceived to respond to the need for a strategic effort directed toward eliminating community tensions associated with fair housing.
Affirmative Action:
Affirmative Action Litigators Conference
In September 2000, LCEF partnered with the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, LCCR and AFC to co-host an affirmative action litigators conference.
University of Michigan Update
The University of Michigan faces two lawsuits brought by the Center for Individual Rights, a conservative legal group that was successful in its challenge of the affirmative action admissions policy at the University of Texas law school in 1996.
2001 United Nations World Conference Against Racism, Xenophobia and Other Related Forms of Intolerance
The Leadership Conference is planning to take a delegation to this year's U.N. World Conference Against Racism in Durbin, South Africa from August 31-September 7, 2001. With funding from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the LCEF is convening a delegation of U.S. civil rights leaders who will carry the voices and concerns of the diverse civil rights coalition to the international community.
