NCJW Applauds Supreme Court Decision in Anti-Discrimination Case
March 30, 2005, Washington, DC -- The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) today applauded the 5-4 decision of the US Supreme Court in Jackson v. Birmingham Board of Education, which declared that retaliatory action taken against a girls' basketball coach for complaining about inferior treatment of the girls' basketball team was within the scope of Title IX. NCJW President Phyllis Snyder issued the following statement:
"The Supreme Court decision in Jackson is a resounding victory for enforcement of Title IX, the federal law barring sex discrimination in federally funded educational institutions. This case involved the rights of Roderick Jackson, a coach complaining of sex discrimination on behalf of his girls' basketball team who was subsequently fired for his trouble. But it is really about the ability of witnesses as well as victims of discrimination to pursue remedies under Title IX. The court's decision that retaliation was covered by the law as a discriminatory practice is key to vindicating the right of girls and women to be treated equitably in our nation's educational institutions. As Justice O'Connor wrote, 'without protection from retaliation, individuals who witness discrimination would likely not report it, indifference claims would be short-circuited, and the underlying discrimination would go unremedied.' NCJW is proud to be among those signing an amicus brief on Mr. Jackson's behalf in this case.
"The close 5-4 decision in this case also highlights anew what is at stake when the next Supreme Court vacancy is filled. The court's minority takes a narrow view of civil rights enforcement that would severely compromise the rights of all of us and undermine the fruits of years of struggle toward the goal of full equality regardless of race, religion, national origin, gender, and disability. The lifetime appointment of one justice at this point could enshrine this minority view as the law of the land for decades to come."
NCJW is a volunteer organization, inspired by Jewish values, that works to improve the quality of life for women, children, and families and to ensure individual rights and freedoms for all through its network of 90,000 members, supporters, and volunteers nationwide.
Contact:
Sammie Moshenberg
202 296 2588; sammie@ncjwdc.org