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September 19, 2023
In This Issue:
With the theme "Legislating Against Hate," the 2023 MI Response to Hate Conference again drew a full capacity crowd to East Lansing. Hosted by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and Michigan Alliance Against Hate Crimes, the event featured several national speakers.
The morning plenary session set the tone for the event with dual keynotes and a panel discussion from Michael Lieberman and Becky L. Monroe. Lieberman serves as Senior Policy Counsel for Hate and Extremism for the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), while Monroe is the Deputy Director of Strategic Initiatives at the California Civil Rights Department.
(Wide shot of the audience of the MI Response to Hate 2023 Conference)
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Attendees were treated to four repeating workshops during the event. Topics of focus for the breakouts included: the codification of hate, a panel on prosecuting hate, legislative processes, and a session on responding to bias for youth.
Perhaps the most important event of the day was the lunch plenary session commemorating Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. As the namesakes for the Shepard-Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act, both individuals were murdered in horrendous hate crimes 25 years ago. In order to tell the full story of the victims, participants heard personal stories from their families. Judy and Dennis Shepard and Louvon Byrd Harris all provided the critical element of giving voice to the voiceless.
(Image is a panel discussion to commemorate Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. From left to right: Michael Lieberman, Louvon Byrd Harris, Judy Shepard, and Dennis Shepard)
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 Image is a screen capture from the PSA featuring an MDCR staff member and the text: "Did you Know?"
On August 23, the department held a virtual news conference to release our public service announcement (PSA) on hate crimes and bias incidents in Michigan. The PSA was filmed by the PR firm Amplified Media and Communication, and features a script and actors from MDCR.
View the PSA here.
In announcing the PSA, Director Johnson made it clear that MDCR will remain active in combating hate and bias.
“Our commitment to countering the forces of hate and bias in Michigan is long and ongoing. This PSA is our effort to reach people in their daily lives, watching TV in their living rooms, listening to radio as they commute to work or drive to the grocery store. The PSA is not only informational, it is inspirational. It says that whoever you are, wherever you reside in Michigan, you are not alone. There is a community of people who are working to stop hate and bias and help those who have been victimized by it.”
Read the entire press release here.
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MDCR is searching for an Administrative Law Specialist and a Departmental Analyst to oversee the ADA Title II grievance procedure. Share these opportunities with your professional networks and friends!
https://tinyurl.com/3pfva942
(Image text: We're Hiring. Join our team)
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Date: September 20, 2023
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Location: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84460074589?pwd=dVdTMGtMSUgvU3loRG4rNi9lREpWQT09
Meeting ID: 844 6007 4589
Passcode: zuSt65
Main Topic: Resource Guide to Developing a School Equity Plan
Council for Government and Education on Equity and Inclusion meetings primarily aim to provide a networking and information sharing venue for DEI challenges, strategies, barriers, and best practices in Michigan. The organization includes leaders in government and education who collaborate and share information to create DEI solutions for their institutions. Our overall goal is to address the root cause of social disparities and assess programs to create and sustain equitable access and opportunities.
Please contact MDCR's DEI Director Alfredo Hernandez-Corsen at hernandeza3@michigan.gov with questions.
(Image is of the Michigan Council for Government and Education on Equity and Inclusion banner with the MDCR logo.)
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The Michigan Civil Rights Commission will hold their next quarterly meeting at 10:00 AM on Monday, October 23, 2023, in Thompsonville, Michigan, about 30 miles outside of Traverse City.
Watch our social media and future editions of MI Civil Rights for information.
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As a civil law enforcement agency, most of our resources are devoted to the complaint investigation process. Below is our investigation data for the period between January 1, 2023, and August 31, 2023:
- 4,370 contacts by people requesting new complaints*
- 975 new investigations opened
- 893 investigations closed
- 123 cases were closed due to a settlement agreement or adjustment **
- $231,354.50 in actual settlements and $119,620 in annualized settlements ***
* Contacts may not become complaints for a variety of reasons, including non-jurisdictional matters, filing deadline violations, or the claimant deciding not to proceed.
** Adjustment can refer to any actions taken by the respondent to resolve a complaint. MDCR is not always privy to the terms of the adjustment or settlement.
*** In actual settlements, money is paid directly to claimants. Annualized settlement data refers to calculated expected earnings or benefits from reinstatement or hire as a result of an agreement.
(Image is MDCR logo.)
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By Jerome Reide, J.D., Ph.D.,
MDCR Legislative Liaison
Each month, Jerome Reide, J.D., Ph.D., Legislative Liaison for the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, will bring you updates and analysis of what's happening in the Michigan legislature -- news of legislation, executive orders and ballot initiatives that relate directly to the MDCR mission and impact the people we serve.
(Image is the Michigan Capitol)
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Trial Ordered on Lawsuit Alleging Black Vote Dilution by Redistricting Maps
On Tuesday, August 29, a panel of three federal judges ordered a trial to determine if the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) violated the Voting Rights Act by redrawing Detroit-area district lines to include suburban communities. Some of the districts impacted had a Black population of more than 90% before 2021, but stand at less than 50% following the redraw.
The Voting Rights Act and Michigan Minorities
Due in part to the effects of segregation, populations of Black, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, “Other,” and those who identify with “two or more” racial groups are often concentrated into geographic areas. As a result of their common regional and demographic interests, these communities need the ability to coalesce and elect candidates of their choice. The VRA specifically requires that majority-minority districts be drawn to prevent vote dilution in Saginaw, Southfield, Flint, Pontiac, Taylor, Inkster, Redford, Hamtramck, and Detroit.
Under the new district lines, each of these communities of interest could be denied the opportunity to elect some candidates of their choice since percentages of majority-minority districts were diluted by the most recent MICRC maps. For example:
- There were twelve majority Black (with three majority-minority districts) state house districts. The MICRC maps cut the number of majority Black districts in half.
- The four state senate districts that were majority Black were eliminated in the MICRC maps.
- Instead of the two majority-minority congressional seats Detroit has had since 1980, the MICRC map has one.
(Image is of a historical banner with text: "Get a piece of the action. Register to Vote.)
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