Court Decisions Affect Our Lives.

The National Campaign to Restore Civil Rights works to ensure that the courts protect and preserve justice, fairness, and opportunity for everyone. The Campaign focuses on public education and outreach, finding ways to get the message out about the impact of court rulings on our communities, our opportunities and our rights.

We're inviting young people to share their perspectives through the NCRCR 2010 Contest.

Real People, Real Stories

Miriam Flores had dreams of becoming a doctor. But English was not her first language, and as a result, school did not come easy to her. In 1992, while Miriam was in the third grade, the school district in Nogales, Arizona told Miriam's mom (also named Miriam Flores) that her daughter wouldn't pass third grade that year. Teachers said she wasn't paying attention, and that she often spoke to other students in class. This seemed unlike her child, so Miriam questioned her daughter. The young Miriam, whose family only spoke Spanish at home, explained to her mother that when she was talking, she was simply asking the other students what the teacher was saying, because she didn't understand the language.

When Miriam's mom explained this to the school district, she was told it wasn't their problem that her daughter wasn't learning the language properly. Yes, they were obligated under the ESL program (English as a Second Language, now changed to ELL, English Language Learners) to teach these students. But without proper funding from the state, there was a shortage of supplies and materials to teach non-English speaking kids. Miriam's mom realized the injustice of the situation, and ultimately sued on behalf of her daughter and other students in the same situation.

Click here to learn more about Miriam Flores.

Monthly Featured Partner: National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)

The National Disability Rights Network is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities. Collectively, the P&A/CAP network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States.

Through training and technical assistance, legal support, and legislative advocacy, the National Disability Rights Network works to create a society in which people with disabilities are afforded equality of opportunity and are able to fully participate by exercising choice and self-determination.

The National Disability Rights Network serves a wide range of individuals with disabilities - including, but not limited to, those with cognitive, mental, sensory, and physical disabilities - by guarding against abuse; advocating for basic rights; and ensuring accountability in health care, education, employment, housing, transportation, and within the juvenile and criminal justice systems.

TAKE BACK THE COURTS

Made by award-winning documentarian Stanley Nelson, this video exposes the negative consequences of a federal judiciary that is increasingly opposed to civil rights protections. Mr. Nelson puts a human face on what has come to be known as the rollback of civil rights. Watch the documentary here.

KEY WORDS
A civil rights glossary

THE RIGHT TO VOTE
And the role of the courts