Public Policy

Advocacy is one of the three driving forces in fulfilling NCCJSTL's mission. It has the power to change laws and policies that address the institutional challenges to creating just and inclusive communities. As laws and policies are changed, actions implemented through the legal and legislative systems deter people from discriminating. In collaboration with other human relations and civil rights partners, NCCJSTL engages, educates and advocates public, private and independent sector leadership in support of policies and legislative efforts central to NCCJSTL's mission.

Twelve quick – and often asked about – facts about NCCJSTL’s Public Policies and Critical Issues

1. NCCJSTL’s mission to fight bias, bigotry and racism and promote understanding for all covers all people and all forms of oppression, prejudice and discrimination. We are a human relations organization dedicated to advancing intergroup relations.

2. Although advocacy work is often through serving as a resource and educator, NCCJSTL is sometimes called upon to lobby for specific legislation at all levels of government on issues ranging from hate crimes legislation to human rights ordinances.

3. NCCJSTL is a non-profit, 501c3 charitable organization and as such is forbidden under IRS regulations to endorse or contribute funds to any political candidate.

4. NCCJSTL supports the philosophy that created Affirmative Action programs because the organization believes that the United States is still not a level playing field in terms of educational and economic opportunities. And, although the current programs are not perfect, NCCJSTL believes that the goal of Affirmative Action programs should be to achieve equity and access for women and people of color in jobs, education, and economic opportunities, while the country continues to examine avenues for making the system better.

5. Based on NCCJSTL’s belief that all discrimination is unacceptable, the organization opposes discrimination against any person based on their sexual orientation.

6. NCCJSTL disagrees with the Supreme Court’s 2000 ruling barring gay troop leaders from Boy Scouts because the organization believes that to exclude individuals based on their sexual orientation from serving in any organization is incompatible with building communities in which every person is valued and respected.

7. NCCJSTL’s focus on immigration has been on the impact of local, state and federal legislation on people who are currently residing in the United States. The organization does not take a stand on quotas or immigration numbers.

8. As a human relations organization, NCCJSTL is deeply committed to supporting federal and state hate crimes legislation that seeks to extend protections to all people in the United States.

9. NCCJSTL believes that racial profiling – targeting people by the color of their skin – is an illegitimate approach to applying our nation’s law, destroys the credibility of law enforcement officers, increases racial tensions, and angers innocent civilians.

10. NCCJSTL opposes prayer at school events because prayer in any public setting must be sensitive to a diversity of faiths. NCCJSTL is not opposed to prayer in other public settings when it is inclusive of faith traditions.

11. NCCJSTL believes that the use of stereotypes to portray the American Indian community in colleges, universities, semi-professional and professional sports teams’ mascots and logos is inappropriate, and that the disrespectful objectification of this country’s first people should be stopped.

12. NCCJSTL believes that police misconduct is not only harmful to the victims, but negatively affects the relationship between the police and public. In a civil society where equal justice is the guiding constitutional principle, NCCJSTL believes that every person is entitled to protection by the police and that it is the responsibility of every resident, police officer and policy maker to ensure that abusive practices are stopped.