Bedrock anti-discrimination law in jeopardy! Protect the Civil Rights
Act of 1866.
[ [link removed] ][IMG]
Call Comcast’s executives and demand they drop this dangerous challenge
to civil rights protections.
[ [link removed] ]Take Action
John, if we don’t stop Comcast, on November 13th, the Supreme
Court will hear its petition to overturn the oldest civil rights law in
the country — Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866.^1 A ruling in
Comcast’s favor would take away our ability to achieve justice in cases of
racial discrimination. It would allow businesses and people to once again
block us from being full participants in the economic system.
We cannot allow Comcast to challenge our first and oldest civil rights
statute.^2 We must act now. [ [link removed] ]Call Comcast’s executives and demand they
drop this dangerous challenge to civil rights protections.
Until justice is real,
--Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Future, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus,
FolaSade and the rest of the Color Of Change team
(see our earlier email below for more details on this campaign)
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References:
1. “Civil Rights Groups Slam Comcast for Trying to Weaken a Key
Protection Against Racial Discrimination,” The Washington Post,
October 2, 2019,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
2. “The Civil Rights Act of 1866: History and Impact,” Thought Co.,
February 3, 2019,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
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Comcast and the Trump administration are working to strike down key
provisions of one of the oldest and most important civil rights laws in
the country: the Civil Rights Act of 1866.
For more than 150 years, this law has been a bedrock protection from
racial discrimination in employment, housing, banking, and consumer and
business transactions. Now, Comcast is petitioning the Supreme Court to
allow racial discrimination in business transactions as long as racism is
not the only reason for denying someone a service.^1,2 If the Supreme
Court sides with Comcast and the Trump administration, it will strike down
one of the most important tools we have for protecting our communities
from discrimination. Such a decision has the potential to fundamentally
change how racial discrimination claims are decided for decades to come.
We cannot allow Comcast’s board and executive leadership to quietly
dismantle civil rights laws so that it can pad its bottom line by
discriminating against Black people. We still have time to force Comcast
to withdraw its petition from the Supreme Court. But we need to act fast
to turn up the pressure on its board of directors before it’s too late!
[ [link removed] ]Demand Comcast withdraw its Supreme Court petition challenging the
Civil Rights Act of 1866, our oldest civil rights statute.
Color Of Change has reached out to Comcast executives and board members
directly to request its Supreme Court petition to be dropped. However,
Comcast and its executives refuse to accept its legal defense will roll
back civil rights protections. For a company that prides itself on being
dedicated to diversity and inclusion in all facets of its business, it is
clear these efforts may be contradicted at any time to protect the
Comcast’s bottom-line.
Black people already face extensive barriers in accessing justice and
economic equality in this country, and this petition would serve only to
allow corporations off the hook for their discriminatory practices.
For Tatiana Denson, a 40-year-old Black woman who had the police called on
her for trying to open a business checking account at a PNC Bank, or Judi
Brown, a Black transgender woman who was subjected to transphobic and
racist slurs and harassment by her manager and coworkers at a Circle K,
this law is their only pathway to justice.^3,4 Comcast’s petition would
make it so that Black people like Tatiana and Judi would have to prove
that racism was the only driver of a decision or denial. Instead of
affirming that racism has no place in the negotiation of a commercial
contract, Comcast is partnering with a Department of Justice that is
openly hostile to the civil rights of Black people. Together, they condone
the inclusion of racism as a legitimate basis for refusing to enter into a
contract with Black people — as long as racism is not the "only reason."^5
[ [link removed] ]We must ensure there are proper protections for our people now and for
years to come. Demand Comcast drop its Supreme Court petition for a Civil
Rights Act of 1866 hearing.
Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 places Black people on equal
footing with white Americans by outlawing conduct that would prevent our
communities from developing the means to work, build wealth, or have
access to the justice system to vindicate our rights. Comcast is using an
important piece of legislation to win a legal battle in an effort to
disregard the large-scale effects of an adverse Supreme Court decision.^6
What is at stake is more important than television programming.
Comcast's persistent pursuit of a ruling undermining civil rights laws,
despite our efforts to engage the corporation directly, places it at the
forefront of coordinated efforts by this administration to strike down
centuries of civil rights progress. Comcast must be held accountable for
attempting to reverse legislation enacted to ensure the economic and civil
protections of Black People. [ [link removed] ]Demand Comcast drop its Civil Rights Act
of 1866 Supreme Court petition.
By leveraging a relationship with an administration that pursues white
nationalist ideals to block Black economic and media power, Comcast is
standing on the wrong side of history, and this cannot go without
consequence. It is critical that Comcast reconsider its petition to the
Supreme Court, given the extensive harms that a ruling in its favor could
extend to Black people, Black businesses, and Black economic equality.
[ [link removed] ]Stop Comcast from setting an oppressive precedent that would make
proving racial discrimination practically impossible.
Until justice is real,
--Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Future, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus,
FolaSade and the rest of the Color Of Change team
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References:
1. “The Civil Rights Act of 1866: History and Impact,” Thought Co.,
February 3, 2019,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
2. “Civil Rights Act of 1866,” African American Civil Rights Movement,
2017,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
3. “Black Woman Uses 153-Year-Old Civil Rights Law to Sue PNC Bank for
Racial Profiling,” The Grio, September 9, 2019,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
4. “Transgender Woman Sues Circle K, Citing Slurs, Harassment, Firing
After Pride Parade: ‘I Was in Absolute Shock,” Chicago Sun Times,
August 21, 2019,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
5. “Exclusive: Comcast & Trump Dismantling Civil Rights Over $20 Billion
Entertainment Studios Lawsuit,” Forbes, August 23, 2019,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
6. “Comcast Defends Civil Rights Record as Discrimination Lawsuit Heads
to Supreme Court,” Fierce Video, August 23, 2019,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
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[ [link removed] ]Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black
folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. [ [link removed] ]Help
keep our movement strong.
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