Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC Applauds Selection of First Asian American Woman to Lead The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

Vanita Gupta, First Asian American Named As New President and CEO of the Leadership Conference
For Immediate Release
Contact
Michelle Boykins (202) 296-2300, ext. 0144 mboykins@advancingjustice-aajc.org

WASHINGTON, DC — Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC President and Executive Director, John C. Yang, issued the following statement to congratulate Vanita Gupta on her new role as President and CEO of  The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and its sister organization, The Leadership Conference Education Fund:

“Vanita Gupta is an outstanding trailblazer in the civil rights community. In such a turbulent time for immigration and civil and human rights, the selection of Vanita Gupta is a momentous occasion and a recognition of the important role of the Asian American community in civil rights. We are thrilled to see a child of immigrants in this important leadership position in human and civil rights advocacy.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC (Advancing Justice | AAJC) applauded when Vanita Gupta became the first South Asian American to lead the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division. In 2016, we honored her with Advancing Justice | AAJC’s American Courage Award for her extraordinary commitment to the protection of civil rights and her leadership in advancing criminal justice reforms. At the time, we could not have known that we would soon be working so closely with her in this new role.  We are thrilled at the opportunity to work with her and the Leadership Conference team on issues from immigrant rights and hate crimes to voting rights and the 2020 Census.”
 

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