Emgage applauds VA Attorney General's formation of Office of Civil Rights

"The creation of the Office of Civil Rights is a step for the Commonwealth to stand up for equity,” said Monica Sarmiento, the Executive Director for Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights. “The creation of this office is long overdue."
 

What has happened:

In 2019, Emgage, along with the Virginia Coalition of Immigrant Rights, worked with Del. Alfonso Lopez and the Attorney General's office to introduce legislation in implementing the creation of a Civil Rights Division in Virginia. After our hard work and advocacy, on January 5th, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring announced the creation of the Office of Civil Rights - to expand, enhance, and centralize his ongoing work to protect Virginians from discrimination and to secure and expand the rights of all Virginians.

What this means for Virginians:

This means that the next time our youth is discriminated against at school by administrators, or our mothers and fathers discriminated against at work for the way they look, speak, or choose to practice their religion, the Civil Rights Division will have the tools to investigate and protect our constitutional rights.

More specifically, the office will:

• Focus on compliance with civil rights laws and policies, investigating all civil rights complaints
• Conduct pattern or practice investigations to identify and eliminate unconstitutional and illegal policing
• Combat LGBTQ and gender-based discrimination
• Combat discrimination in employment and places of public accommodation
• Protect the Rights of expectant and new mothers

What Next:

Our hard work has paid off! Next, we will work with Del. Charnel Herring to ensure that the legislation is passed through both the House and Senate so that the division is funded and equipped with the resources needed to implement the needs within the Commonwealth of Virginia. We are grateful to our community's support, alongside our coalition partners, and representatives. The creation of the Office of Civil Rights is the first step in a long-term strategic plan towards a more just and equitable Virginia.

Click here to read our full press release

Kind regards, 

Mohamed Gula, Emgage Virginia Executive Director

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