Dear CEO supporters,
March Madness is upon us and the Ides of March bode well for the Center for Equal Opportunity as we continue our relentless battle against race-based policies and discrimination. Here’s our latest:
CEO Accepting Applications for Civil Rights Fellowship
Last month, CEO announced the launch of its 2023 Civil Rights Fellowship. Applications are now being accepted on our website. The program, which will take place between August 7-11, 2023 in Washington, D.C, is intended for law students with an interest in a career in a public, private, or nonprofit setting where their instruction and training can be shared with the public, the courts, and/or through policy development. However, non-law school applicants will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
All fellows will receive a $500 stipend. Lodging and meals will be provided, and travel expenses will be reimbursed. The seminars over the course of the week will be led by law and policy experts, litigators, former government officials, and other thought leaders with whom the fellows will also have an opportunity to socialize and network.
We encourage our supporters to share the details of our fellowship and its simple application process with any law students who have at least one year of formal legal education and are dedicated to supporting colorblind equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in America. Applicants can be directed to: www.ceousa.org/ceo-fellowship
The deadline for applications is April 1.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN COVID TREATMENTS
CEO is the lead organization in a brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take up an appeal to a Second Circuit decision in a controversial New York Covid treatment program that excluded non-minority patients from receiving antiviral treatments. Facing a severe shortage of Covid treatments in the early days of the pandemic, the state of New York and New York City issued directives instructing medical providers to prioritize treatments to individuals on the basis of race. CEO’s brief argues that the race-based distribution of antiviral treatments is plainly unconstitutional. CEO is joined by the Kirkwood Institute, Manhattan Institute, Pacific Legal Foundation, and Reason Foundation in asking the high court to grant certiorari in the case.
TRUE DIVERSITY
In a new Philanthropy Roundtable video, CEO President Devon Westhill discusses why he supports the new True Diversity initiative, an effort to promote an equality-based, holistic framework for embracing diversity. Mr. Westhill states: “Ultimately, I’m supporting True Diversity because I believe in equality. I believe that every person is a unique individual with dignity who deserves an equal chance of success in life.”
Westhill says True Diversity respects that we are all “incredibly complex and unique individuals,” and is an approach preferable to others that seek to achieve diversity through quotas that “divide us by race.”
As Mr. Westhill points out, “…race-based preferences for some and not for others is almost always what is meant when an organization or government entity promotes the concept of equity instead of equality.” Instead, Westhill argues True Diversity offers companies and organizations a framework focused on real equality that gives everyone the same opportunities to succeed no matter their background.
“True Diversity embraces stories like mine because of what it says about me, beyond my race or sex. That I could have the life journey that I’ve had and how that journey affects my perspective on the world,” says Westhill. “I’m not just a Black man. I’m a dedicated husband, devoted father, a U.S. Navy veteran, proud Florida man, Steve Martin fan and so much more.”
COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION
Mr. Westhill has been busy fighting the good fight for equal opportunity and nondiscrimination on many fronts: in op-eds, podcasts, media interviews, and public speaking events. You can catch Mr. Westhill at the upcoming Federalist Society event in Raleigh, N.C., on March 21st where he will discuss affirmative action cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, including the milestone case challenging racial preferences in admissions at the University of North Carolina and Harvard. Mr. Westhill will also be speaking at Stephen F. Austin State University on April 12th as part of the George Mason University Scalia Law School Voices for Liberty program.
CEO Chairman Linda Chavez has been taking our message to the airwaves in recent weeks as well, appearing on several cable shows including the national news program Dan Abrams Live on NewsNation and on To the Contrary on PBS. Ms. Chavez recently traveled to Brussels to give a speech at a conference on democracy and equality for women in honor of International Women’s Day. She is also a frequent source in news stories on our issues and continues her weekly appearances on the Beg To Differ podcast, available on iTunes.
CEO Civil Rights Fellow alum and current Harvard Law student Anthony Pericolo recently penned an excellent column in Newsweek sounding the alarm on California’s latest reparations scheme. A new bill signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom is seeking ways to pay out reparations for slavery to Americans descended from slaves. As Mr. Pericolo correctly notes: “The damage is already done: People who were never slaves feel entitled to reparations because their government tells them so. People who never owned slaves and who live in a state which never had slaves now must pay for the sins of completely different people.”
The Left’s radical schemes never stop. But CEO will be always be there every step of the way to monitor, expose, and challenge efforts that divide Americans by skin color and national origin. None of our work would be possible without your support.
On that note…
OFFICE OF PLANNED GIVING
Please keep in mind that CEO has launched our Office of Planned Giving and now, as a supporter of colorblind equal opportunity, you can forever help the fight for nondiscrimination and race-neutral public policy in America by including a gift to CEO as part of your legacy. There are many ways to include CEO in your planning, including:
- Bequests through your will or trust
- Naming CEO as the beneficiary of a retirement account, insurance policy, bank or brokerage account
- Making a gift of real estate such as a residence or commercial property
- Donating appreciated securities like stocks, bonds, or mutual funds
Visit our website for more details.
Hope you enjoy a little March Madness this week and thank you for all your support!
Rudy Gersten
Executive Director
