Civil Rights in Oregon? Not Guaranteed

Attorney General’s Civil Rights Enforcement Unit (House Bill 5022)

We need to act. Right now, we do not have the legal resources we need to guarantee the civil rights and civil liberties of Oregonians. The Oregon Department of Justice used to have a civil rights enforcement unit, but in the 1980s the funding for this unit was eliminated. As a result, there is not a single attorney at the Department devoted to civil rights and civil liberties enforcement work. This is unacceptable. [emphasis mine]

Each day, Oregonians face discrimination because of their race, their age, their gender, their disability, or their sexual orientation. Illegal wiretapping robs our right to privacy. Wanton disregard for the American’s with Disabilities Act leaves entire neighborhoods inaccessible to Oregonians who depend on that protection. Servicemen and women are unlawfully denied their jobs when they return from serving our country.

To fix this problem, the Oregon Department of Justice is requesting $660,166 for the biennium – about $330,000 per year -- to fund the restoration of itscivil rights enforcement unit. This unit will consist of one attorney and one investigator to combat discrimination based on age, race, gender, gender identity, disability or sexual orientation. This unit will also fight to protect our state and federal constitutional rights, promote environmental justice, preserve reproductive freedom, and defend the employment rights of Oregon 's veterans.

This is a simple but powerful tool that can help Oregon become a more fair, equitable and just state. We urge the State Legislature to create and fund a civil rights enforcement unit at the Oregon Department of Justice.

This unit will:
* expose discriminatory financial exploitation
* stand up for reproductive rights
* protect persons with disabilities
* preserve civil liberties
* promote environmental justice
* defend the employment rights of Oregon's veterans

Other things to know:
- There are currently no full-time civil rights attorneys at the Oregon Department of Justice
- Starting the unit would cost about $660,000 over two years – or about $330,000 per year.
- This would fund 1 attorney and 1 investigator

PLEASE CONTACT:

Senator Margaret Carter
Party: D District: 22
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1722
Capitol Address: 900 Court St.NE., S-209, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.margaretcarter@state.or.us

Representative Chip Shields
Party: D District: 43
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1443
Capitol Address: 900 Court StNE, H-276, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.chipshields@state.or.us

Senator Joanne Verger
Party: D District: 5
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1705
Capitol Address: 900 Court St.NE., S-401, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.joanneverger@state.or.us

Representative Peter Buckley
Party: D District: 5
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1405
Capitol Address: 900 Court StNE, H-286, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.peterbuckley@state.or.us

Call your Senator and ask them to support:
Attorney General’s Civil Rights Enforcement Unit (House Bill 5022)

We have a great Attorney General - let's give him the tools he needs to protect us!