Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
Durbin: We Must Honor John Lewis' Life By Protecting The Right To Vote For All Americans
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) honored the life of U.S. Representative John Lewis (D-GA-05), a civil rights icon who risked his life to march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, to protest the right to vote, and who fought for racial justice and equality in America throughout his entire life. "For a man who had witnessed the depths of hatred and despair, John Lewis was one of the most hopeful people I have ever … Continue Reading
July 21, 2020
Durbin: Sending In Secret Police To Cities Like Portland & Chicago Is Unacceptable & Un-American
WASHINGTON - Following reports that President Donald Trump wants to send federal agents into cities, including Chicago, to conduct policing activities that are traditionally handled by local law enforcement, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Senate to pass legislation to block the Trump Administration from deploying federal forces as a shadowy paramilitary against Americans. The Preventing Authoritarian Policing Tactics on America's Streets Act, which was also … Continue Reading
July 17, 2020
Durbin Speaks To Chicago Bar Association About Justice In Policing Act
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke to the Chicago Bar Association (CBA) Young Lawyers Section's (YLS) Racial Justice Coalition via webcast about the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, a comprehensive approach to hold police accountable for misconduct, change the culture of law enforcement, and build trust between law enforcement and our communities. "The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many other … Continue Reading
July 15, 2020
Durbin Discusses Police Reform With National Organization Of Black Law Enforcement Executives
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke by phone with the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) Land of Lincoln Chapter President Marcus Lucas and local chapter members today about policing reform. During the call, Durbin heard from NOBLE members about their experiences in law enforcement and discussed his support for the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, which aims to comprehensively change the culture of law enforcement by prohibiting racial and … Continue Reading
June 24, 2020
Durbin Commemorates Pride Month, Calls For Senate To Step Up During Moment Of Change In America
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today commemorated Pride Month and urged his Senate colleagues to continue to work for equal justice under the law during this historic moment of change in America. Durbin urged his colleagues to finally pass the Equality Act, speak out against efforts to discriminate against LGBTQ Americans, and recognize the importance of the racial justice movement by … Continue Reading
June 24, 2020
Durbin Votes Against Motion To Proceed To Republican Police Reform Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after voting against the motion to proceed to the Republican police reform bill, the JUSTICE Act: "Senate Republicans' proposal on police reform fails to meet this historic moment with the real change that the young people on the streets are calling for. We owe it to George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, and all of the Black and Brown lives … Continue Reading
June 24, 2020
Durbin Votes Against Cory Wilson's Nomination To The Fifth Circuit Court
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after voting against the nomination of Cory Wilson to the Fifth Circuit Court: "For the second week in a row, Senate Republicans have confirmed a Circuit Court nominee with a record of strident hostility toward the Affordable Care Act. Even in the midst of one of the greatest public health crises in our nation's history, Republicans just won't let go … Continue Reading
June 23, 2020
Durbin Calls On Senator McConnell To Allow For Bipartisan Negotiations On Police Reform Legislation
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to allow real debate on policing reform in order to find common ground and warned against a potential partisan vote on the floor of the Senate. Durbin joined his colleagues, Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Kamala Harris (D-CA), in calling on Senator McConnell to refer the … Continue Reading
June 23, 2020
Durbin, Grassley Introduce New, Bipartisan Legislation To Reform Elderly Home Detention And Compassionate Release Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
WASHINGTON - Amid the COVID-19 public health pandemic, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), authors of the bipartisan First Step Act, landmark criminal justice reform legislation, introduced new, bipartisan legislation to reform the Elderly Home Detention Pilot Program and compassionate release from federal prisons. Sadly, more than 80 federal prisoners with pre-existing medical conditions that made them more vulnerable to COVID-19 have died as a result of the virus, … Continue Reading
June 22, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Join Senate Democrats In Introducing Resolution Recognizing June As LGBTQ Pride Month
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined the entire Senate Democratic caucus in introducing a Senate resolution recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month. The resolution highlights the contributions LGBTQ individuals have made to American society, notes several major milestones in the fight for equal treatment of LGBTQ Americans, and resolves to continue efforts to achieve full equality for LGBTQ individuals. The resolution also recognizes how the COVID-19 … Continue Reading
June 18, 2020
Durbin Votes Against Nomination Of Justin Walker To D.C. Circuit Court
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after voting against the nomination of Justin Walker to the D.C. Circuit Court: "Senate Republicans gave Justin Walker a lifetime appointment to the second highest court in the land for two main reasons: because Walker is a protégé of the Senate Majority Leader, and because he's an outspoken critic of the Affordable Care Act. It is shameful that even in the middle of a public … Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
Durbin To McConnell: Let's Negotiate In Good-Faith To Reach Bipartisan Agreement On Police Reform
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to allow real debate on policing reform in order to find common ground and warned against a potential partisan vote on the floor of the Senate. Durbin is a cosponsor of the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, a comprehensive approach to hold police accountable for misconduct, change the culture of law enforcement, and build trust between law … Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
Durbin To McConnell: Let's Negotiate In Good-Faith To Reach Bipartisan Agreement On Police Reform
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to allow real debate on policing reform in order to find common ground and warned against a potential partisan vote on the floor of the Senate. Durbin is a cosponsor of the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, a comprehensive approach to hold police accountable for misconduct, change the culture of law enforcement, and build trust between law … Continue Reading
June 16, 2020
Durbin: Systemic Racism Plagues Our Nation & Criminal Justice System
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Police Use of Force and Community Relations," U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) pushed back against Senator John Cornyn's (R-TX) argument that systemic racism does not exist in our nation's justice system. "If you take a look at our system of justice and start with the premise that when it comes to drug users there is an equal percentage of White and Black drug users. Now you look at the number arrested for … Continue Reading
June 16, 2020
Durbin Statement On President Trump's Policing Reform Executive Order
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today issued the following statement regarding President Donald Trump's policing reform executive order: "When America cries out for meaningful, historic police reform, President Trump's executive order is modest at best. Congressional Democrats have introduced bold, comprehensive legislation to hold police accountable for misconduct and change the culture of law enforcement. We need … Continue Reading
June 16, 2020
Durbin Joins Booker To Press For Vote On Justice In Policing Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) on the Senate floor to press Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to bring the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 to the floor for a vote. The legislation proposes a comprehensive approach to hold police accountable for misconduct, change the culture of law enforcement, and build trust between law enforcement and our communities. "In my home state, I've been to several rallies in the … Continue Reading
June 16, 2020
Durbin Joins Booker To Press For Vote On Justice In Policing Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) on the Senate floor to press Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to bring the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 to the floor for a vote. The legislation proposes a comprehensive approach to hold police accountable for misconduct, change the culture of law enforcement, and build trust between law enforcement and our communities. "In my home state, I've been to several rallies in the … Continue Reading
June 15, 2020
Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Ruling On LGBTQ Workplace Discrimination Cases
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled that the sex discrimination prohibition in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits firing an individual merely on the basis of that individual's sexual orientation or gender identity: "Today's Supreme Court ruling affirms what we know to be right: that an employer cannot fire someone for simply being gay or transgender in America. … Continue Reading
June 10, 2020
Durbin Calls On Senator McConnell To Bring Justice In Policing Act To Floor For A Vote
WASHINGTON - On the day of George Floyd's burial service, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to bring the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 to the floor for a vote. The legislation proposes a comprehensive approach to hold police accountable for misconduct, change the culture of law enforcement, and build trust between law enforcement and our communities. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin also noted that justice in … Continue Reading
June 09, 2020
Durbin Discusses COVID-19 Threat At Federal Prisons With Federal Public And Community Defenders
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with members of the Federal Public and Community Defenders, including Thomas Patton, Federal Public Defender for the Central District of Illinois, and John Murphy, Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of Illinois, about the failure of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to maintain a safe environment for inmates and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Durbin heard how BOP has failed to reduce the prison … Continue Reading