Wade Henderson: The Wrong Choice for Civil Rights

In his blistering attack on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights under the leadership of former chairman Mary Frances Berry, George F. Will [op-ed, March 11] obviously did not use as sources the untold numbers of people who have confronted racial discrimination, gender bias and other violations of equal-opportunity laws. At the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, we hear the stories about discrimination experienced by members of our 185 affiliated organizations and the millions of constituents they represent across the country. These constituents include racial and ethnic minorities, women, people with disabilities, seniors and many others whose realities defy Mr. Will's dismissive assertions. Mr. Will seems to prefer to rely on the analysis of new commission chairman Gerald A. Reynolds, who has made clear his blindness to our country's struggle to overcome a legacy of racism and discrimination. Mr. Will is unqualified to speak on the subject of equal justice until he listens to the people whose perspectives are shaped by a firsthand reality.

WADE HENDERSON
Executive Director
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
Washington [more]