Michigan Department of Civil Rights

Michigan Department of Civil Rights is a department of the Michigan State Government created in 1965 to support the work of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission of Michigan's Constitution of 1963. The Commission directs the work of the department and has eight members.[2] The executive director is Agustin V. Arbulu.

Department of Civil Rights

Michigan Department of Civil Rights logo
Department overview
Formed	1965
Headquarters	Lansing, Michigan
Department executives	Laura Reyes Kopack (Co-Chair) Mumtaz Haque (Co-Chair) Rasha Demashkieh (Secretary) Alma Wheeler Smith Ricardo Resio Jeff Sakwa Ira Combs[1] , Commissioners Agustin V. Arbulu, Executive Director
Child agencies	Michigan Women's Commission[2] Division on Deaf, Blind and Hard of Hearing
Website	michigan.gov/mdcr

The Department of Civil Rights investigates and resolves discrimination complaints and works to prevent discrimination through educational programs that promote voluntary compliance with civil rights laws.

History

In 1963, Michigan approved a new constitution which included the creation of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission. In 1965, a principal department was formed to support the work of the commission.

In 1991, the Michigan Women's Commission was transferred to the Department from the Michigan Department of Management and Budget by the Governor's Executive Order.[3]

By 1998, the Department also housed the Indian Affairs Commission, and the Commission on Spanish Speaking Affairs.[2]

In April 2011, Governor Rick Snyder transferred from the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth to the Department the Commission on Disability Concerns, the Division on Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission and Hispanic/Latino Commission.[4] The Hispanic/Latino Commission (formerly known as the Commission on Spanish Speaking Affairs) and the Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission were transferred to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) by Executive Order in 2016.

In February 2013, the department filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Education against 35 Michigan high districts that use “American Indian mascots, names, nicknames, slogans, chants and/or imagery”.[5] The Education Department dismissed the case using the previously-established ‘hostile environment’ standard.[6]

Over the years, MDCR has produced a number of issue papers and policy documents. Beginning in 2006 through 2017, a series of reports on migrant and seasonal farmworkers were completed. In January 2013, the Department issued the Report on LGBT Inclusion Under Michigan Law for the Commission to review.[7]

In 2014, the department blocked the Twitter account then being used by Barack Obama from following its own Twitter account.[8]

The same year, an "uproar" occurred after the civil rights commission, which oversees the department, unanimously voted to pay a $24,740 bonus to department executive director Agustin Arbulu in a secret meeting that violated Michigan's open meetings law.[9][10] The commission ultimately agreed to "redo the bonus vote" in open session.[11] Arbulu rejected the bonus.

In 2018 Ira Combs, whom Michigan Radio characterized as "one of the most prominent and active anti-LGBT activists" in Michigan was appointed to the civil rights commission. The appointment was met with bipartisan concern.[12]

Department Commissions

Michigan Women's Commission

The Michigan Women’s Commission (MWC) was created by statute in 1968 [PA 1 of 1968] with the mission of improving the lives of Michigan women. The MWC consists of 15 members representing numerous fields of interest to women. The Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoints members to the Commission for three-year terms. The Governor also designates a chair and vice chair from commission members. Meetings are held quarterly, and the location rotates throughout the state.[13]

References

1. "Meet the Commission". Michigan Department of Civil Rights. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
2. MICHIGAN IN BRIEF: 1998–99 Chapter 2: About State Government (PDF). Public Sector Consultants, Inc. 1999. pp. 10–11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2004-10-25.
3. "The Michigan Civil Rights Commission & Department of Civil Rights". Michigan Department of Civil Rights. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
4. Bomey, Nathan (February 23, 2011). "Snyder remakes Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth into regulatory affairs department". AnnArbor.com. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
5. Jennings, Zeke (February 9, 2013). "Grass Lake among schools targeted by Michigan Department of Civil Rights complaint for use of American Indian mascot". Citizen Patriot. Mlive Media Group. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
6. Martin, Tim (June 4, 2013). "American Indian mascot complaint dismissed by U.S. Department of Education". mlive.com. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
7. Graham, Lester (January 28, 2013). "Discrimination against LGBT bad for Michigan economy". Michigan Radio. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
8. Hinkley, Justin (July 17, 2017). "Trump was sued, but Michigan blocked @POTUS, hundreds more on Twitter". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
9. "Civil Rights Director's $25K Pay Raise Behind Closed Doors Violates State Law". WWJ-AM. October 16, 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
10. Haywood, Todd (October 13, 2017). "Michigan Civil Rights Commission bonus to director done in secret". Lansing City Pulse. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
11. Oosting, Jonathan (October 17, 2017). "Civil rights director rejects secret bonus". Detroit News. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
12. Clark, Zoe (February 12, 2018). "Snyder ignites controversy with anti-LGBT appointment to civil rights board". Michigan Radio. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
13. "Michigan Women's Commission". State of Michigan. Michigan Department of Civil Rights. 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2019.