By Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has eliminated an specific ban on “segregated amenities” like ready rooms, eating places and ingesting fountains for federal contractors, a memo issued by the U.S. Common Providers Administration confirmed.
The memo was issued final month however media shops took notice of it on Tuesday after a report from NPR.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
Since taking workplace on January 20, Trump has taken a number of steps geared toward dismantling variety, fairness and inclusion applications within the federal authorities and personal sector.
In a single such government order, Trump revoked government insurance policies relationship way back to 1965 on equal employment alternatives, environmental actions designed to guard communities of coloration, and “workforce balancing” efforts by federal contractors primarily based on race, gender and faith.
The 1965 motion aimed to finish discriminatory practices in hiring and employment on the a part of U.S. authorities contractors.
The February 15 memo mentioned it was making modifications prompted by that government order from Trump.
KEY QUOTE
The memo acknowledged that “when issuing new solicitations or contracts,” civil businesses ought to not embody the supply and clause in regards to the “Prohibition of Segregated Amenities.”
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
Federal and state legal guidelines nonetheless outlaw discrimination and segregation and whereas the memo’s step was symbolic, civil rights advocates famous it as a part of a pattern with Trump’s policymaking.
They mentioned that any step which will give the notion of turning again the clock on racial segregation was not welcome.
“Whereas segregation continues to be unlawful, this modification sends a CLEAR message,” civil rights lawyer Ben Crump mentioned.
CONTEXT
Rights advocates say measures Trump is making an attempt to dismantle aimed to uplift marginalized teams and addressed the continued results of historic and generational inequity.
Trump and his allies defend his actions by saying his orders goal to take away what they name discrimination in opposition to different People, together with white individuals and males.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Further reporting by Ryan Patrick Jones; Enhancing by Saad Sayeed)
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