Equal Rights Center Honored with Alfred McKenzie Award

The Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs honored the Equal Rights Center with the 2008 Alfred McKenzie Award on June 4 at the committee’s annual awards ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Washington.

The committee, which also celebrated its 40th anniversary at the ceremony, recognized the Equal Rights Center’s successes in fighting discrimination in the District and nationally.

The ERC is dedicated to eliminating discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations, and government services.

Rabbi Bruce Kahn, executive director of the Equal Rights Center, says the McKenzie Award confirms “the vital importance” of the organization’s work in helping to secure civil rights for those who would otherwise be discriminated against. He said recent years have been particularly challenging because funding for government agencies that enforce civil rights is down.

Kahn says the center has had significant successes in addressing civil rights issues in recent years. This month the center won a $14 million settlement with MetroAccess, a facet of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, to improve the operations of one of the nation’s largest curb-to-curb transit services for people with disabilities.

“Let’s be clear, discrimination is alive and well,” Kahn says. “And what many don’t realize is that there is more discrimination against people with disabilities than anyone else. It’s way over the top.”

The awards ceremony also recognized David Cynamon, a committee board member and partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, and Leslie Turner, general counsel for Coca-Cola North America and former committee board member, with the Wiley Branton Award. The Wiley Branton Award honors lifetime achievements in working on behalf of civil rights.