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Weekly Updates"Simple justice requires that public funds, to which all taxpayers of all races contribute, not be spent in any fashion which encourages, entrenches, subsidies or results in racial discrimination," said President John F. Kennedy on June 11, 1963.
In the spirit of this ideal, the U.S. Department of Justice recently held a conference to celebrate the passage of the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on July 2, 1964. Title VI is part of the landmark legislation that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance.
The conference, with attendance of nearly 500 participants, offered an opportunity for representatives from federal agencies and the recipients of federal assistance, which included community advocates, state and local agencies, nonprofit organizations, NLC and others committed to ensuring nondiscrimination, to learn from and share information with each other.
Loretta King, acting assistant attorney general, remarked that while the nation has made incredible progress since 1964, the enforcement of federal civil rights laws, including Title VI, continues to play a critical role in protecting and advancing a national commitment to equality.
She noted that the conference was only the beginning of an ongoing conversations between agencies and those in the community. She urged each agency of the federal government to focus on community outreach as it reviews and enhances its Title VI compliance program. Further, she stated the Department of Justice would exercise its clearance authority in a renewed effort to ensure the consistent and effective enforcement of Title VI.
DOJ has released a DVD about Title VI obligations, "Understanding and Abiding by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964." To request copies, call the Coordination and Review Section at the Department of Justice at (202) 307-2222.
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