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Press Release
LULAC
National Executive Board Unanimously Opposes Roberts Nomination
to the Supreme Court
John Roberts'
Record is Antagonistic toward Immigrant Rights, Voting Rights,
Education, and Affirmative Action Among Others
August 30, 2005, Media Contact: Brenda Alvarez,
(202) 833-6130
Washington, DC - The National
Executive Board of the League of United Latin
American Citizens (LULAC) unanimously voted to
oppose the nomination of John Roberts to the
Supreme Court. Although he does not have an
extensive public record, what exists suggest
that Roberts' ideological positions may not
allow him to be a fair and impartial judge,
respectful of the important role of the Supreme
Court.
The National Executive Board
was especially concerned with John Roberts'
record in the Plyler v. Doe case which raised
significant questions about his position on
immigrant rights and opportunities. "Over its
long history, LULAC has fought hard to ensure
that immigrants' rights were protected. Plyler
v. Doe overturned a Texas law that would have
withheld state funds from school districts for
the education of undocumented children and
denied them enrollment into the school system,"
stated Hector Flores LULAC National President.
"Roberts' comments while he was special
assistant to the Attorney General in a memo
dated June 15, 1982 clearly demonstrate that he
criticized the court's decision."
It is clear through Roberts'
limited public record that he has been a
consistent advocate of the positions of the
extreme right wing. During the Reagan
administration, Roberts helped promote efforts
to severely limit the circumstances under which
minorities could bring suit under the 1965
Voting Rights Act. Roberts also argued against
affirmative action saying that the program was
bound to fail because they required "the
recruiting of inadequately prepared candidates."
Furthermore, in a patronizing
1983 memo while he was at the White House,
Roberts commented that the Reagan administration
would be favorably viewed by the Hispanic
community because, "I think this audience would
be pleased that we are trying to grant legal
status to their illegal amigos."
A hard right candidate for a
lifetime appointment to the nation's highest
court will certainly threaten the impartiality
of our court system.
"This attitude combined with
his stance on affirmative action, voting rights
and civil liberties has lead LULAC to believe
that John Roberts is not the right person for
the Supreme Court," President Flores added.
The League of United Latin
American Citizens is the oldest and largest
Latino civil rights organization in the United
States. LULAC advances the economic condition,
educational attainment, political influence,
health, and civil rights of Hispanic Americans
through community-based programs operating at
more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.
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