TAKE ACTION: US Commission on Civil Rights

TAKE ACTION: US Commission on Civil Rights 

The USCCR is depriving military communities of their Constitutional right to equal representation under the law. As an avowed “independent watchdog,” it has failed to hold the government accountable for lapses in civil rights owed to military families. There’s a lot that needs to be changed, but let’s start with something small and simple - a phone call or email. It only takes a minute and it’s simple AF.

Below is a script that allies can use to advocate for soldiers, veterans, and their families. The point of contact, a Public Affairs Officer, has never returned a call or email from me, but maybe they will with you! The script reflects the likelihood that a phone call will put you in touch with a machine, but read it closely before you call in the event the PAO does answer your call. I’ve included hyperlinks in the script in case you use it as an email, and you should familiarize yourself with the links and their content as much as possible. If you get a response, great! Let me know what they say by emailing me at iamloganmi at Gmail dot com.

I’ve tried to make it simple and straightforward, but I always welcome feedback; let me know what improvements I need to make, I love making things better!

ATTN: Director of Communications and Public Engagement

Telephone: (202) 376-8371

E-Mail: Publicaffairs@usccr.gov

Hi my name is _________________, and I am calling about the Commission’s 2019 report on Hate Crimes. Specifically, I am hoping to understand why the Commission left out an important section of the Matthew Shepherd and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. 

In its report, the Commission ignored Section 4712 of the Act, which created hate crimes protections for military families during their service and up to five years after discharge. Section 4712 was made law at the same time as other sections that created protections for sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability, so it is not clear why military families were left out of the Commission’s report. 

If this omission was intentional, then please return my call and provide me the Commission’s reasoning behind excluding military families from hate crimes reporting. If this omission was unintentional, then I ask that the Commission do its due diligence and reissue an updated report that does not deprive military families of their constitutional right to equal representation by federal agencies. 

My name, again, is ____________ and you can reach me at (__) __-____. Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you.