Washington, DC—Following today’s action in the Senate Judiciary Committee that advances the nomination of Kristen Clarke, President Biden’s nominee to lead the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice, People For the American Way President Ben Jealous released the following statement:

“We applaud the advancement of Kristen Clarke’s nomination to lead the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice. Kristen is a person of outstanding intellect and ethics who is absolutely committed to civil rights and equal justice under the law. Her experience as a civil rights attorney and leader is a perfect fit for this position. It has been disheartening but not surprising to see the attempts by the Right to smear her and her record, including at today’s Senate Judiciary Committee markup. As a highly accomplished Black woman, Kristen has had to rise above these attacks throughout her career. We’re confident that the majority of senators will see through them this time and will move swiftly to confirm Kristen to the Justice Department, where she will be a leader in the fight to ensure equal rights and freedoms for all of us.”

About People For the American Way

People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity and justice for all. We encourage civic participation, defend fundamental rights, and fight to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable opportunity. Learn more: https://www.pfaw.org.