Laws to Strengthen Civil Rights Enforcement in Connecticut Passes Senate in Bipartisan Vote

Press releases

04/06/2021

Senate passes bipartisan vote to strengthen Connecticut civil rights legislation

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong made the following statement after the state Senate voted 26 to 9 in favor of passing laws to strengthen the attorney general’s ability to enforce civil rights laws in Connecticut. SB 363, a law on the duties of the Attorney General, formally recognizes the role of the Attorney General in combating hatred and defending civil rights. It brings Connecticut in line with our sister states by formalizing the attorney general’s ability to investigate and, if the evidence warrants, initiate civil rights suits to halt large-scale, systematic violations of existing constitutional and legal rights. The legislation enables the Attorney General’s Office to pursue the civil enforcement of our state’s laws against hate crimes.

“Today’s bipartisan vote is a historic step forward for civil rights enforcement in our state. Just days after the anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, as we battle a spate of anti-Asian violence and bigotry as authorities in our own state investigate hideous nooses hanging from a construction site as we grapple with anti-Semitism in our communities, we will reminds that we can never take our civil rights and freedoms for granted. We are in the midst of a national reckoning of hatred, race and justice, and Connecticut is not segregated or immune. For the past several years, this office has worked to protect the rights of Connecticut residents to safe voting, access to safe housing and affordable health care without discrimination, and to protect the rights of our immigrant families to due process. And there is still so much to do. This bill strengthens the Attorney General’s ability to proactively seek justice for those whose rights and freedoms have been attacked. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office has the capacity, the expertise and the will to take on this important work. I thank the Senate for the powerful bipartisan message it sent today and I look forward to working towards a House passing in the near future. ” said Attorney General William Tong.

Twitter: @AGWilliamTong Facebook: CT Attorney General

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