Advancing Justice | AAJC Files New Documents in Census Court Case and Calls for End to Government Games With 2020 Census

The U.S. Department of Commerce refused to enter a joint stipulation with the plaintiffs of Lupe v. Ross et al.
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For Immediate Release
Contact
Michelle Boykins (202) 296-2300, ext. 0144 mboykins@advancingjustice-aajc.org

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Commerce refused to enter a joint stipulation with the plaintiffs of Lupe v. Ross et al. as requested by U.S. District Court Judge George J. Hazel. The government had until 2:00 p.m. today and instead is using its time to delay the inevitable.

Advancing Justice | AAJC (Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC) and MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) have proceeded with filing today around its 5th Amendment (equal protection) and conspiracy claims before the Maryland District Court.

In response to the latest developments, John C. Yang of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC issues the following statement:

“This is a case of the coaches admitting defeat while the team’s owner is trying to convince the umpires to change the rules and put more time back on the expired clock for one last Hail Mary. That’s not how the law works.”

“The government is trying to buy time to pursue a hopeless strategy. They’re being told not to concede defeat after its public admission that the census form is being printed without the citizenship question. The government does not have a legitimate path for inclusion of the citizenship question on the 2020 census. It had the chance to set forth a legitimate reason to the U.S. Supreme Court and failed.  Now the government is trying to make up new rules. We won’t let that happen.”

“The government is trying to sow seeds of confusion in the public even as it prints the 2020 Census form without the citizenship question. We’re on the right side of justice here. The government should stop playing games and start working toward getting the fair and accurate count of every person in this country. Period.”

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Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC has a mission to advance the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all. Advancing Justice - AAJC has served as a member to numerous advisory committees to the Census Bureau since 2000, including the Decennial Census Advisory Committee, the 2010 Census Advisory Committee, and, currently, the National Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic and Other Populations. In its advisory role, AAJC assists the Census Bureau in understanding what research programs would help the Bureau effectively to address the cultural differences and intricacies in various hard-to-reach communities, particularly in Asian American communities, in order to get the most accurate count possible. Additionally, Advancing Justice - AAJC currently co-chairs the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights Census Task Force.