Civil Rights

CFC Priorities for the 2009 Legislative Session

Protect Arkansans from age, racial and other discrimination by creating a Civil Rights Commission that people can turn to for help to mediate civil rights abuses that can be resolved and enforce the current law on wrongdoers who willfully refuse to comply.

Close the loophole in Arkansas labor law that prevents the Department of Labor from prosecuting mid-size employers who steal the wages of their employees.  Employers who work people without paying them must be stopped.

Civil Rights Petition

Update! - March 6

Accomplishments of the CFC in the 2007 Arkansas General Assembly

Sentencing reform was one of the priority issues chosen by our members at our state convention in August, 2006, and a significant expansion of drug courts for non violent offenders in Arkansas passed.  This act will lead to treatment alternatives to long-term incarceration for some people who need help dealing with alcohol or substance problems.  We helped defeat changes to the foster care and adoption system which would have banned unmarried couples or gays and lesbians from adopting or serving as foster parents.  And we successfully helped fight attempts to discriminate against immigrants.

What the CFC worked on in the 2005 Arkansas General Assembly

A bill to allow the State Police to act as Federal Immigration officers was passed despite our objections that it would lead to more racial profiling and abuses of anyone who might look like they could be an immigrant. A coalition of Latino activists fought this bill.