CCR Annual Report 2005 - Center for Constitutional Rights

RACIALJUSTICE
18
CCR v Discrimination
CCR was born out of the Civil Rights Movement and has battled racial injustice in its
many forms ever since. This year, in addition to submitting amicus briefs on voting
rights and the Tulsa Race Riots, we worked on three cases challenging New York City’s
racist employment policies.
While African-Americans make up over 25% of the labor pool in New York City, they
comprise only 3% of the Fire Department. Working with the Vulcan Society, an organization
of black firefighters, CCR filed charges in the summer of 2002, which resulted in a
ruling that the test for becoming a firefighter was discriminatory and led to the
announcement this winter of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation. CCR filed new
class action discrimination charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
(EEOC) in late February and joined the Vulcans to protest outside of several Fire
Department graduations with abysmal minority representation among the new recruits.
On September 11, 2001, Michael Harrington, a Sikh and New York City subway conductor
led the passengers on his train to safety. Since then, the MTA has attempted to force its
Sikh employees to wear MTA logos on their turbans even though many other MTA
workers wear headgear that does not carry the MTA symbol. This year, CCR worked with
the Sikh Coalition to file discrimination charges against the MTA on behalf of Mr.
Harrington and other Sikh transit workers, demanding that the MTA put an end to its
policy of religious discrimination.
CCR has been working closely with a support group of teachers, the Committee for a Fair
Licensing Procedure, which argues that the Board of Education’s reliance on the National
Teachers Examination to terminate the regular licenses of experienced teachers constitutes
discrimination because the test has a disparate impact on minorities. This is a class
action on behalf of public school teachers of color who are challenging the use of
discriminatory tests and licensing rules that have deprived them of equal salaries,
pensions, benefits and seniority while still keeping them on the job. CCR argued the case
before the Court of Appeals in January, and we are hoping for a decision in the fall.
CCR is committed to championing those who fight against racial injustice everywhere.