WASHINGTON—On September 22, 2020, Helsinki Commission Chairman Rep. Alcee L. Hastings (FL-20), other Helsinki Commissioners, and select members of Congress will join members of the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee and Subcommittee on Human Rights to discuss combating racism and systemic discrimination on both sides of the Atlantic.
RACIAL EQUITY, EQUALITY, AND JUSTICE
Reinforcing U.S.-EU Parliamentary Coordination to Combat Racism and Systemic Discrimination
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
10:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. EDT / 4:45 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. CEST
Watch Live: https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/droi-libe-joint-meeting_20200922-1645-COMMITTEE-DROI-LIBE_vd
During the meeting, European Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli will present the new EU Anti-Racism Action Plan. Other invited speakers include:
- Rep. Alcee L. Hastings, Chair, U.S. Helsinki Commission
- Rep. Steny Hoyer, House Majority Leader
- Rep. Gwen Moore, U.S. Helsinki Commission
- Rep. Karen Bass, Chair, Congressional Black Caucus
- Rep. Joe Wilson, Co-Chair, Congressional European Union Caucus and Ranking Member, U.S. Helsinki Commission
- Rep. Gregory Meeks, Co-Chair, Congressional European Union Caucus
- Rep. William Keating, Chair, Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy and the Environment
- Rep. Adam Kinzinger, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy and the Environment
- Rep. Jim Costa, Chair, U.S. Delegation, Transatlantic Legislators Dialogue
- Pap Ndiaye, French historian
- Hilary Shelton, Director, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s (NAACP) Washington Bureau
Following the meeting, participants expect to issue a joint declaration on transatlantic collaboration to address racism and systemic discrimination, including the establishment of a forum for a regular exchange of views between elected representatives and stakeholders on both sides of the Atlantic.
The joint meeting follows more than a decade of racial justice efforts by the U.S. Helsinki Commission, including a bicameral letter sent to the President of the European Commission in July 2020 led by Chairman Hastings and Helsinki Commissioner Rep. Gwen Moore (WI-04). The letter, which also was signed by Helsinki Commission Ranking Member Sen. Ben Cardin (MD), who serves as the OSCE PA Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism, and Intolerance; Helsinki Commissioners Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), and Rep. Marc Veasey (TX-33); and 35 other Members of Congress, called for a sweeping plan of action following the European Parliament’s Juneteenth Day resolution.
