They are supported by seven union groups representing millions of workers President BidenJoe BidenCaitlyn Jenner says the elections were not “stolen,” Biden calls “our president” Manchin Colonial aims to “substantially” restore pipeline operations by the end of the week Three questions about Biden’s protection goals MOREThe decision to head the Department of Justice’s civil rights division, according to letters of support first received from The Hill.
The various trading groups represent educators, service workers, communication specialists, lawyers and utility workers. The letters that have been sent to the senior senators on the Judiciary Committee ask the Senate to confirm this Kristen ClarkeKristen Clarke Major Unions assist Clarke in running the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division. The Senate confirms that Biden’s candidate for DOJ Garland’s second official is revoking Trump-era consent forms as Deputy Attorney General for Civil Rights.
“A Justice Department with a strong commitment to civil rights will improve the lives of educators, health professionals, public employees, and the communities where AFT members live and serve. Clarke’s entire working life has been dedicated to that commitment,” according to the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten wrote in a letter dated April 28th.
Clarke also received support in a letter from the National Education Association, the largest union representing teachers and school workers with more than 3 million members.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents around 1.4 million workers, also supported Clarke in her work. She cited her experience as chair of the civil rights attorney’s committee and as director of the civil rights office of the New York Attorney General.
“At a time when tensions are inconsistent between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve, it is of paramount importance to have competent, committed officials with proven leadership skills in the Justice Department,” wrote Teamsters President James Hoffa in a letter from April 27th.
Other groups written in support of Clarke in the past few weeks have included officials from the Communications Workers of America, the AFL-CIO Union Lawyers Alliance, the Utility Workers Union of America, and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
“Clarke’s two decades of civil rights experience make her the right person to lead the Civil Rights Division at this point in our country’s history. SEIU members are confident that she will implement all federal laws that protect workers from discrimination and working towards an economy that really works for everyone, regardless of their background, “wrote Mary Kay Henry, international president of the SEIU and its 2 million members.
Biden announced in January his intention to appoint Clarke as assistant attorney general for civil rights. If this were confirmed, Clarke would be the first Senate-approved woman and woman of color to head the civil rights division.
At their confirmation hearing last month, Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee criticized Clarke’s advocacy as a civil rights activist on police and voting rights. Lawmakers raised concerns about a statement she wrote on Newsweek last year after police killed George Floyd, a black man.
Clarke denied that she believed in defusing the police, saying that her column should advocate investing in initiatives that would make law enforcement easier while promoting public safety.
If confirmed, Clarke’s job would be to address tensions surrounding police violence against blacks, as well as a surge in hate crimes against Asian Americans amid the coronavirus pandemic. It would also face pressure from Republican lawmakers across the country to restrict voting in a way that experts say will disproportionately affect minorities.
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