FBI and Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Announce the Civil Rights for Everyone Conference
A Conference on Law Enforcement and Civil Rights

BIRMINGHAM—The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Birmingham Division and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) will sponsor a conference, “Civil Rights for Everyone,” Sunday and Monday, May 20-21, 2012, at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, 520 Sixteenth Street North.

On Sunday, May 20 at 4:00 p.m., the public is invited to a program that will include a discussion by civil rights organizations. Retired U.S. District Judge U.W. Clemon will deliver the Sunday keynote address, and the Sunday program will conclude with a reception and tour of BCRI.

The conference continues on Monday, May 21 with training sessions for community leaders, law enforcement, and the public from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The training both Sunday and Monday is free and open to the public, but registration is required. The objective is to educate attendees on civil rights laws and how they play a role in protecting a cross section of the community. Presenters include representatives from the Civil Rights Sections of FBI Headquarters and the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., as well as panel discussions by local experts.

The FBI is the primary federal agency responsible for investigating all allegations regarding violations of federal civil rights statutes. These laws are designed to protect the civil rights of all persons, citizens, and non-citizens alike within U.S. territory. The laws include: hate crimes; “color of law” violations (actions taken by a person acting under authority of local, state, or federal laws to willfully deprive someone of their rights secured under the Constitution); human trafficking (the illegal “business” of trafficking persons into forced labor and prostitution); and freedom of access to clinic entrances.

“Everyone has protections under the nation’s civil rights laws. ‘Civil Rights for Everyone’ is a message we want to convey to law enforcement and the community, and it is our hope this conference will enlighten the public on the laws that are in place to protect their rights,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Maley.

“To ensure fair and equal treatment for everyone, it’s important to be educated in civil rights matters,” stated Dr. Lawrence Pijeaux, Jr., president and CEO of BCRI. “A constructive dialogue between law enforcement and diverse cultures can help remove barriers and promote understanding for everyone.”

For registration information, please e-mail: fbiconference2012@bcri.org.

For media information, contact:

Paul Daymond, Federal Bureau of Investigation, at paul.daymond@ic.fbi.gov or (205) 279-1457

or

Priscilla Hancock Cooper, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, at pcooper@bcri.org or 205-328-9696, ext. 233.