U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

2002 PRESS RELEASES, ADVISORIES AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

COMMISSION CONDEMNS SENATOR TRENT LOTT'S REMARKS, QUESTIONS RECORD ON CIVIL RIGHTS

The United States Commission on Civil Rights has repeatedly emphasized the importance of positive leadership in helping the country to overcome the practice and policy of invidious discrimination. In view of this reality, Commission Chair Mary Frances Berry issued the following statement on behalf of the Commission:

We are appalled by Senator Trent Lott's recent reiteration of the view that Americans would be better off if the country had embraced a segregationist presidential candidate, notably Senator Strom Thurmond in 1948.

Senator Lott's record shows a long-standing hostility toward measures that the Commission has advanced in the national interest of civil rights enforcement. A few examples follow.

• This Commission opposed tax exemptions for Bob Jones University because of its practice of race discrimination. Senator Lott maintained that racial discrimination should not cause the denial of a tax exemption to the university.
• This Commission supported a Martin Luther King Federal Holiday in recognition of the great service the civil rights movement and his leadership gave to this nation in bringing us nearer to the national goal of liberty and justice for all. Senator Lott opposed it.
• This Commission supported the extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in 1982, in the interest of ending the disenfranchisement of citizens on the basis of race or national origin. Senator Lott opposed it.

The Commission regards Senator Lott's actions, coupled with his recent statement, as directly contrary to positive political leadership in the cause of civil rights.

12/12/02