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Derrick Robinson, Director of Communications, Drobinson@lawyerscommittee.org, (202) 662-8317

National Civil Rights Group Responds to Supreme Court's Decision to Hear Census Case

Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court's

WASHINGTON

Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court's decision to hear the challenge to the Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross's decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census:

"The facts in this case are extremely strong and we are confident that the Supreme Court will issue the right ruling in this case. The record in the cases challenging the administration provide overwhelming evidence that the administration's goal in adding a citizenship question was to discourage and deter immigrants and communities of color from participating," said Kristen Clarke, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. "At the end of the day, the census count stands as one of the most critical constitutional functions our federal government performs and this administration has taken extraordinary steps to jeopardize the possibility of achieving a full and fair count. The Commerce Department's addition of the citizenship question runs contrary to the constitution and conflicts with data provided by Census Bureau scientists that makes clear that an undercount would be the inevitable result. The administration's claim that the citizenship question is needed to help enforce the Voting Rights Act is not only false but fully at odds with an administration that has proven hostile to minority voters at every stage."

The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law has mounted a challenge to the administration's decision to add the citizenship question to the 2020 Census.

The Lawyers' Committee is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to enlist the private bar's leadership and resources in combating racial discrimination and the resulting inequality of opportunity - work that continues to be vital today.

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