WASHINGTON, D.C. – The NAACP issued the following statement after President Barack Obama’s nomination of Catherine Lhamon and Debo Abegbile to serve six-year terms on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights on Dec. 15:
“The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) applauds the nomination of Catherine Lhamon and Debo Abegbile to serve on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.“We are proud to have worked with both people extensively in the past, and they are each longstanding champions in advancing civil rights in schools, policing and the criminal justice system. Ms. Lhamon has worked through the U.S. Department of Education on many key civil rights issues, working to ensure that universities respond appropriately to sexual assaults on campuses, and to address issues surrounding school discipline and its effect on student education, as well as protecting the rights of transgender, disabled and other student populations across the country.
“Through his work as an attorney and advocate, Mr. Abegbile has argued before the Supreme Court to protect and defend voting rights and fight against employment and housing discrimination through his career.
“As we begin an era when people rising to positions of power have shown shocking lack of awareness and consideration of basic civil rights, we hope these two individuals will serve to ensure that U.S. policy and practices are done in a way that does not infringe on the basic civil rights all individuals are entitled to in this nation.”
