The Trump DOJ Is Trying To Kill The Civil Rights Act of 1866

A case headed to the U.S. Supreme Court which will be heard on November 13, 2019, could have a tremendously negative impact on the Black community’s civil rights. as it pertains to fair play in contracting and other measures. Justice Department filed an amicus brief in regard to the lawsuit between Entertainment Studios chairman and CEO Byron Allen, Comcast ,and Charter Corp. 

Allen is suing Comcast Corp. and Charter Communications over racial discrimination after the cable giants refused to include Entertainment Studios programming on their networks. He cites a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, whose section.

The Civil Rights Act of 1866, whose section 1981 prohibits racial discrimination in contracts.

Specifically:

All persons within the jurisdiction of the United States shall have the same right in every State and Territory to make and enforce contracts, to sue, be parties, give evidence, and to the full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings for the security of persons and property as is enjoyed by white citizens, and shall be subject to like punishment, pains, penalties, taxes, licenses, and exactions of every kind, and to no other.

Immediately after slavery, to combat the emerging “Black Codes,” the national government took steps to ensure that former slaves (now citizens) and their children would be able to participate in the liberties that any white citizens enjoy. This would be the origins of The Civil Rights Act of 1866, laws that continue to protect Blacks to this day in business, real estate and various other ways. (CBC, TheGrio, Congressional Record cited )