Dear CEO supporters,
July turned out to be a busy—and successful—month in the Center for Equal Opportunity’s fight defending the principle of equality under the law.
With its 2020-2021 term ending, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its last two opinions in cases in which CEO filed amicus briefs. In Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee, CEO argued that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act guarantees that voters must be given an equal opportunity to vote regardless of their race or ethnicity, but it does not require a particular racial outcome in voting. The Court’s 6-3 majority made precisely the point CEO argued in our brief, namely:
“The mere fact that there is some disparity in impact does not necessarily mean that a system is not equally open or that it does not give everyone an equal opportunity to vote. And small disparities should not be artificially magnified.”
You can read our briefs for Brnovich and for Thomas More Law Center v. Bonta, a case that overturned California’s forced donor disclosure requirement, on CEO’s website www.ceousa.org. You will also find our recent studies there as well as information about our staff, board of directors, and background on our issues.
Our efforts also take place in the court of public opinion, by educating and influencing Americans on issues of race through op-eds, interviews on television and radio, as well as podcast appearances.
In addition to her frequent appearances on PBS, CNN and other cable news shows, CEO chairman and founder Linda Chavez recently moderated a panel on Critical Race Theory for the Federal Society’s Regulatory Transparency Project, where she chairs the Race and Sex Working Group. Linda also wrote a valuable column on the Voting Rights Act in the wake of the Brnovich decision, which addressed the moral panic that has ensued in the media and among progressives since the Court struck down one provision of the Act and narrowed the interpretation of another section. Linda notes that “Voting rights are alive and well in the United States,” despite claims by the left that we are entering an era of Jim Crow 2.0 after the Court’s decisions. In addition, an article this past week on a setback to California’s efforts to require quotas for women on corporate boards credits Linda’s role in fighting those quotas.
CEO president and general counsel Devon Westhill also continues writing and speaking out on our issues, including writing animportant piece rejecting victim culture, denouncing comments by Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot that racism is a public health crisis that “is literally killing us.” Devon points out, “By exaggerating, or outright falsifying, black victimization, leaders like Lightfoot provoke mediocrity which, in turn, fuels perceptions of inferiority from within and outside the black community.” Devon’s column sparked several radio interviews, including his appearance on the Lars Larson show.
But none of this would be possible without the support of people like you. Thank you, and we again encourage you to check out our new revamped website to stay engaged in the fight for colorblind equal opportunity,
Stay safe,
Rudy Gersten
Executive Director
Center for Equal Opportunity
Related posts:
Yes, We Can Reject Victimhood
TESTIMONY OF ROGER CLEGG, PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL, CENTER FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITY BEFORE THE U.S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS REGARDING THE PROPOSED EMPLOYMENT NON-DISCRIMINATION ACT
50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act
The Real Voting Rights Threat Is Nullification, Not Access