UPDATED: GOP Deletes ‘Civil Rights And Human Rights’ From Subcommittee’s Name

In a blatant example of exactly how Republicans feel about civil rights and human rights, the GOP has deleted those words from the name of a Senate subcommittee that is responsible for issues including voting rights, hate crimes, racial, religious, ethnic, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation discrimination.

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa (photo) is now the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, after Republicans took over the Senate in the November elections. Responsible for subcommittee assignments, Grassley, along with the subcommittee’s new Chair, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, have changed the name of the Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil and Human Rights to the Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution. 

It’s a clear reminder and example of exactly what Republicans hold dear, and what they have contempt for.

Civil and human rights groups are furious. 

“Names matter,” says Nancy Zirkin, executive vice president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition of more than 200 civil and human rights groups. “The new Senate Republican Majority’s decision to expunge civil rights and human rights from this subcommittee’s name is a discouraging sign given the growing diversity of our nation and the complex civil and human rights challenges we face.”

Zirkin points to the subcommittee’s responsibility “to examine the human rights record of the United States and consider ratification of essential human rights treaties like the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.”

She adds, “we still have a long way to go to address issues such as voting discrimination and hate crimes and violence committed against individuals because of their race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation. In addition, the recent deaths of unarmed African-American men and boys at the hands of police have spurred a movement across the nation calling for reforms to our nation’s justice system, which would likely fall under this subcommittee’s jurisdiction.”

UPDATE:
Via Buzzfeed –

“The Constitution covers our most basic rights including civil and human rights,” said Megan Mitchell, Cornyn’s spokeswoman, in an email to BuzzFeed News. “We will focus on these rights along with other issues that fall under the broader umbrella of the Constitution.”

“The name of a subcommittee speaks to its priorities,” Ben Marter, a spokesman for Durbin, said in an email to BuzzFeed News. “Senator Durbin will make sure that civil rights and human rights aren’t dropped from Congress’ agenda.”

 

Image by Gage Skidmore via Flickr
Hat tip: Chris Geidner