July 2009 is here!

We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable July 2009!

The July 2009 Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Newsletter is out. Highlights include:

• Recap of June 25, 2009 Fair Housing Conference
• New Commissioners: Dr. Ruth White and Anthony Arrington
• RESULTS OF THE CORRIDOR’S DIVERSITY CLIMATE STUDY
• The Persistence of Racial and Ethnic Profiling in the United States
• Facts on: HATE CRIMES, PREJUDICE, AND STEREOTYPES ...
• What Do You Know?
• more facts and information on the Civil Rights Commission

JULY CIVIL RIGHTS EVENTS IN OUR HISTORY

• July, 1839 -
  Iowa was among the earliest states to enact prohibitions against race discrimination, especially in education. In the very first decision of the newly founded Iowa Supreme Court, In Re the Matter of Ralph, the Court rejected slavery in a decision that found that a slave named Ralph became free when he stepped on Iowa soil, 26 years before the end of the Civil War.
• July 26, 1948 -
  President Truman signs Executive Order 9981, which states, "It is hereby declared to
  be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin." The order also creates the President's Committee on Equality of Treatment and opportunity in the Armed Services.
• July 2, 1964 -
  President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The most sweeping civil Rights legislation since Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination of all kinds based on race, color, religion, or national origin. The law also provides the federal government with the powers to enforce desegregation.

peace