Wade Henderson Quotations

We applaud the five judiciary members who voted their conscience and took a principled position in opposition to the nomination of John Roberts to be Chief Justice of the United States. However, we are profoundly disappointed that the committee, as a whole, ignored compelling evidence against his nomination.

Now that Roberts' nomination has been reported out of committee, we strongly urge senators to vote their conscience and reject his nomination when it reaches the floor. The stakes are too high and the consequences too great to gamble.

He listened carefully, he listened thoughtfully. He did not respond to challenges or views that were presented. I do think he felt this should be a vote of conscience and I think in the end he voted his conscience, and I think at the end of the day that speaks volumes about his leadership.

I think African-Americans are certainly tired of being stereotyped as responsible for the majority of crime in American society.

It is important that the federal government and its agencies pay special attention to providing and ensuring equal employment opportunity for the thousands of individuals - including racial/ethnic communities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans with disabilities - who have heretofore been denied access to good-paying jobs.

Ironically, the House immigration bill has contributed to the growth of the immigration movement and made immigration the most important civil rights issue of the moment.

Our strength is the diversity of our membership and our unity of purpose, ... Unity of purpose doesn't mean we are in lock step on every issue. Janet Murguia is a strong leader who reflects deep commitment to our values.

Religious leaders are the trusted gatekeepers in many of these communities. The stakes for our communities could not be higher.

Re-authorization of this Act is critical. In making our democracy work, it is important that we do every thing we can to ensure that every citizen's right to vote is protected.

President Bush has dug in his heels by refusing to release relevant documents from Roberts' time as a top political appointee and dragged his feet on releasing thousands of other records. This is no time to hide the ball. Given that the next chief justice will affect the lives of all Americans, the Bush administration has a clear obligation to the public to provide the Senate with everything it needs to fully review Roberts' record.

Organizations like those who have set up these protection initiatives are trying to sound the alarm. We want the country prepared to bring these elections systems under heightened scrutiny.

I think right now what you're looking at is not whether or not the opposition will build or exist, but rather when that opposition will be announced with sufficient critical mass to indicate the battle has been joined. This is in the process of developing.

I think if Secretary Bennett does not choose to address the issue with a forthright apology, at the bare minimum, I think Secretary Bennett's program should be removed from the air.

John Roberts must use the hearings as an opportunity to account for his unacceptable stances on civil rights and other important issues.

When it comes to home computers and Internet access, there are two Americas: there's an America online and one that is falling through the net. In the 21st century it is unacceptable that such a large number of Americans are without computer and Internet access. The time has come for our elected officials to take responsibility for closing this gap.

We have a lot of young guys who haven't jelled yet. It's tough when you lose (last year's seniors), but you have to learn to play without them.

The president has an important challenge and opportunity. He can choose a nominee who will unite the country in support of fundamental American rights and freedoms, or he can choose a judicial activist who can dramatically change the court's direction. I pray for the former but I expect the latter.

We recognize the importance of providing relief and rebuilding in the communities in the disaster area, but it is totally unnecessary to undermine the affirmative action requirements of new federal contracts that are designed to provide equal opportunity in accomplishing these vital tasks.

with honor and distinction. ... He cared deeply for the independence of the judiciary in America's democracy.

We will not stand by and let the administration tinker with retirement security. Many Americans have spent their whole lives working for it. So many Americans count on it to make ends meet.

to be extremely troubling. They seem to reflect the work of a deeply committed ideologue.

Bennett's statement is outrageous. As a former secretary of education, he should know better, ... His program should be pulled from the air.

Anti-discrimination laws are the foundation to ensuring that people of color are treated equally. We will vigilantly defend any law, regulation, or ordinance that is designed to ensure equal treatment of all borrowers in the mortgage process.

The White House promoted a number of nominees that we believe demonstrated hostility to civil rights, women's rights and to matters of concern to many Americans. We certainly hope the administration will use this opportunity surrounding the Lott controversy to rethink some of its nominees.

This poll is significant because it takes the temperature of those closest to the current immigration debate. The survey results are striking and reinforce the call for responsible immigration reform worthy of a nation built by immigrants.

It's certainly an issue that warrants further exploration,

serve as the steward of the rights, liberties and freedoms of all Americans for generations to come.

If you don't fill out the form, ... the ability of your community to get the resources to build that center doesn't exist. That's not gonna happen.

If his view had prevailed, our country's voting rights revolution might never have happened,

For the past 40 years, the law on voting rights has worked well to enfranchise the disenfranchised. But the threats to minority voters and efforts to discourage minority voters continue.

All evidence indicates that Judge Roberts would use his undeniable impressive legal skills to bring us back to a country that most of us wouldn't recognize, where states' rights trump civil rights, where the federal courts or Congress can see discrimination, but are powerless to remedy it.