National Fair Housing Alliance Issues Statement on the Passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 19, 2020
Contact: Izzy Woodruff | 202-898-1661 | IWoodruff@nationalfairhousing.org
National Fair Housing Alliance Issues Statement on the Passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Washington, D.C. — Lisa Rice, president and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance, issued the following statement on the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
“As we mourn the loss of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, we should also celebrate her tremendous contributions to the ongoing fight for justice, fairness, and peace. Not only did she fight tirelessly throughout her career to advance the rights of women, she voted numerous times on the bench to advance fair housing.
“In 2015 she joined the 5-4 majority in Texas Dept. of Housing & Community Affairs v. Inclusive Communities Project, which ruled that disparate impact claims are allowed under the Fair Housing Act. This ruling affirmed the use of disparate impact as a tool to help make housing more accessible for families with children, women, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, people of faith, and communities of color, and it has played a critical role in advancing civil rights and equal opportunity and addressing the segregation that still persists in America. The Trump administration has since waged an all-out attack on this vital tool, a move that undermines the progress made by Ginsburg and others who dedicated their lives to achieving equality.
“NPR reported that in her final days, Ginsburg told her granddaughter Clara Spera the following: ‘My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.’ We must honor her life by honoring her final wish and allow the U.S. system of democracy to take hold, ensuring that no nominee is put forward at this time.
“Ginsburg’s Supreme Court rulings and lifelong commitment to equal justice have benefited millions of people and created a fairer nation for us all. We extend our most heartfelt condolences to her family. May we continue to uphold her legacy, and may she rest in peace.”
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About The National Fair Housing Alliance
Founded in 1988, NFHA is a consortium of more than 200 private, nonprofit fair housing organizations and state and local civil rights agencies from throughout the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., NFHA works to eliminate housing discrimination and ensure equal housing opportunity for all people through leadership, education, outreach, membership services, public policy initiatives, community development, advocacy, and enforcement.