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January 16, 2024
In This Issue:
On Monday, January 22, 2024, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission will meet for a regular quarterly business meeting. The event is being held in Cadillac Place Building, Suite L-150, 3054 W Grand Blvd, Detroit, Michigan 48202.
The meeting will include a public comment period.
The location is accessible and paid parking is available nearby. If you plan to attend and need an accommodation to do so, please contact Shawn Sanford no later than Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at MDCR-INFO@michigan.gov.
ASL interpreters and CART services will be provided.
(Image is MCRC 60th Anniversary logo)
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If you are passionate about civil rights, MDCR is looking for you! We are currently hiring for the following positions:
(Image is a "We're Hiring. Join our Team" sign.)
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 Fair Housing Hearings The Michigan Civil Rights Commission is seeking public testimony about experiences with discrimination in housing. If you have experienced discrimination in buying, renting, home loans, or credit rating processes, this is YOUR chance to be heard! The Commission will use this testimony to create a list of recommendations for securing fair housing in Michigan. Virtual Fair Housing Hearing Date: February 7, 2024 Time: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Where: Register Online or scan QR with your phone. michigan.gov/mdcr/fair-housing-initiative-2024. Upcoming Hearings. Flint Fair Housing Hearing Date: March 16, 2024 Time: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Where: Mott Community College Event Center Address: 1401 E Court St, Event Center, Flint, MI 48503 Grand Rapids Fair Housing Hearing Date: April 28, 2024 Time: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Where: Center for Community Transformation Address: 1530 Madison Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507 Civil Rights Summit on Fair Housing Date: June 12, 2024 Time: 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM Where: The Icon Address: 200 Walker St, Detroit, MI 4822. ASL Interpreters will be provided. To request other accommodations, contact Shawn Sanford at MDCR-INFO@michigan.gov or 1-800-482-3604 at least 3 business days prior to the hearing.
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Fair Housing Hearings
The Michigan Civil Rights Commission is seeking public testimony about experiences with discrimination in housing. If you have experienced discrimination in buying, renting, home loans, or credit rating processes, this is YOUR chance to be heard! The Commission will use this testimony to create a list of recommendations for securing fair housing in Michigan.
Virtual Fair Housing Hearing
Date: February 7, 2024
Time: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Where: Online
Flint Fair Housing Hearing
Date: March 16, 2024
Time: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Where: Mott Community College Event Center
Address: 1401 E Court St, Event Center, Flint, MI 48503
Grand Rapids Fair Housing Hearing
Date: April 28, 2024
Time: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Where: Center for Community Transformation
Address: 1530 Madison Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
Civil Rights Summit on Fair Housing
Date: June 12, 2024
Time: 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Where: The Icon
Address: 200 Walker St, Detroit, MI 48226
(Image is a row of family houses
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 Background photo of an African American man casting a vote. Text: MDCR presents: VOTING & VIOLENCE: Hate and Bias Around General Elections. Jan. 25, 2024. 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Featured Presentations By: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Department of Justice; The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Join the Michigan Department of Civil Rights as we explore the connection between voting and violence. During this virtual forum participants will learn about hate crime trends surrounding general elections, voting rights, and practical ways to prevent hate and bias before, during, and after elections. Interpreter and cart captioning services will be provided for this event. Click here to RSVP: Https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3osWJ98CQGO6DaG81ZwHIw
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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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MICRC Seeks US Supreme Court to Approve Maps for 13 Detroit Legislative Districts
The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) has appealed a Western District of MI, US District Court ruling that it diluted Black voting strength and violated the Voting Rights Act (VRA).
“The Commission violated the Fourteenth Amendment by drawing thirteen of Michigan’s legislative districts predominately on the basis of race but did not reach the VRA claims,” the District Court said. The judges also denied MICRC’s request for special State Senate elections in 2024 and further ordered MICRC to draw new maps for public comment by Feb. 2, 2024.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 says that "No voting qualification or prerequisite to voting, or standard, practice, or procedure shall be imposed or applied by any State or political subdivision to deny or abridge the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race or color." Coalitions of Black, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, “Other,” and those who identify with “two or more” racial groups have had the ability to coalesce and elect candidates of their choice.
The VRA requires majority-minority districts be drawn to prevent vote dilution in cities such as Detroit. This community of interest may have been denied the opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice if the 2010 percentages of majority-minority districts was diluted.
For more information:
Federal Court Orders Redistricting Commission To Draw New State House Districts by Feb. 2
(Image is MDCR Director John E. Johnson, Jr. addressing the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission in 2021, pointing to violations of the Voting Rights Act in the Commission’s proposed electoral maps.)
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US Department of Justice Unveils Efforts to Protect the Right to Vote
The US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division is working to ensure that voters can “... cast their ballots and have their votes counted free of discrimination, intimidation, or criminal activity in the election process...”
The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces a wide range of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including: the Voting Rights Act; the National Voter Registration Act; the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act; the Help America Vote Act; and the Civil Rights Acts.
Collectively these laws:
- Prohibit election practices that have either a discriminatory purpose or a discriminatory result on account of race, color, or language minority status;
- Prohibit intimidation of voters;
- Allow voters who need assistance in voting because of disability or inability to read or write to receive assistance from a person of their choice (other than agents of their employer or union);
- Require minority language election materials and assistance in certain jurisdictions;
- Require accessible voting systems for voters with disabilities;
- Require that provisional ballots be offered to voters who assert they are registered and eligible to vote in the jurisdiction, but whose names do not appear on poll books;
- Require states to provide for absentee voting for uniformed service members serving away from home, their family members also away from home due to that service, and U.S. citizens living abroad; and
- Require covered states to offer the opportunity to register to vote through offices that provide driver licenses, public assistance, and disability services, as well as through the mail, and to take steps regarding maintaining voter registration lists.
For More Information:
Justice Department Releases Information On Efforts Protect Right to Vote
(Image is a piece of paper pinned to corkboard with the words "Your Vote Counts.")
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