Equal Protection Under the Law
Every American deserves equal protection under the law. While our country has made great strides toward true equality, much remains to be done. Important legislation is needed to reaffirm the true spirit of the civil rights movement. Making sure that every person is treated fairly and without prejudice is a national responsibility.
We must ensure equal protection by ending racial profiling. The vast majority of law enforcement officers are hard working public servants who do a difficult job honorably. However, any time officers are believed to be biased, it undermines the entire criminal justice system. Using race as an indicator for potential criminal behavior is unconstitutional and morally wrong, and we must fight to end it in America.
We must support judicial nominees who will protect our rights. As lifetime appointees, judicial nominees shape the future of fundamental issues such as civil rights, religious freedom, privacy rights and freedom of speech for decades. We will continue to fight to oppose any judicial nominee with a record of overriding the law with their personal opinion.
Fairness in sentencing is needed to ensure equal protection under the law. There must be an immediate end to the racial disparities in sentencing for both drug offenses and death penalty cases. Justice must be blind to race, color and creed.
People with disabilities also must have equal protection under the law. The Americans With Disabilities Act should be fully enforced, and we need to protect state services for people with disabilities, provide quality health care and a real prescription drug benefit, and ensure equality in education.
The greatness of our country stems from its diversity. Through equal protection under the law, we can continue to better our country and build a promising future for all.
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