As an organization that defends, promotes, and preserves individual rights and liberties under the U.S. and Connecticut constitutions, the ACLU-CT is in favor of measures to protect and strengthen civil rights in Connecticut. We therefore support House Bill 7222, which would formally recognize the power of the Attorney General to help protect the civil rights of Connecticut residents.
In a time when attacks on civil rights are commonplace, it would be useful to augment the team of people, agencies, and organizations working to protect these rights in Connecticut. It is important that the legislature explicitly authorize the Attorney General to advocate on behalf of the people of Connecticut by filing civil rights lawsuits. This would enable the Attorney General to join the fight to end large-scale, systemic violations of residents’ rights in a more robust and effective way.
The Attorney General’s civil rights effort could be a very useful complement to the work of existing civil rights agencies and organizations. As we understand it, the Office of the Attorney General would implement its new authorization in a way that does not supplant or detract from the important work of current civil rights experts and advocates in the state. Instead, the Attorney General’s efforts would enhance the work of other actors in the space.
