After months of stalling and obstruction by Senate Democrats, Kenneth Marcus was confirmed, 50-46, on Thursday as the head of the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights.
Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Chris Coons, D-Del., did not vote.
As assistant secretary of education for civil rights, Marcus, who founded and led the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, will lead the office which enforces civil rights laws prohibiting schools from discriminating based on race, ethnicity, color, national origin, disability, and age.
Marcus was endorsed by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
In the past, the Office of Civil Rights has come under fire for its handling of sexual assault cases on college campuses. Marcus replaces Catherine Lhamon, who led the implementation of policies like the Dear Colleague Letter. Lhamon was succeeded by Candace Jackson on an interim basis since President Trump’s inauguration.
Despite staunch opposition from the American Civil Liberties Union and other left-wing groups, Marcus had the support of at least 60 Jewish, Christian, education, and civil rights organizations.
“No one has been more deserving of this position than Kenneth Marcus who has a stellar record of defending human rights and fighting anti-Semitism,” Roz Rothstein, co-founder and CEO StandWithUs, told Red Alert Politics. “StandWithUs is thrilled that all mis-informed opposition has been negated.”
The AMCHA Initiative, which monitors campus anti-Semitism and supported Marcus’s nomination, tweeted its congratulations.
Congrats! –> Kenneth L. Marcus Confirmed by Senate as New Assistant U.S. Secretary of Education for Civil Rights @brandeiscenter
— The AMCHA Initiative (@AMCHAInitiative) June 7, 2018
“Ken will be an asset to this country. He is a fierce defender of the rule of law,” human rights lawyer Brooke Goldstein, who has worked with Marcus and LDB, told Red Alert Politics. “There is no one I can think of to better lead the department.”
Goldstein added, “Those who opposed him only did so to prevent the office from functioning in the capacity it is meant to function: to objectively apply civil right law to all communities unlawfully targeted, and to ensure that the campus space is a safe space for all students regardless of their ethnic religious or national backgrounds.”
Opposition included James Zogby, the founder of the Arab American Institute.
Ken Marcus is wrong for the job of Covil Rights Chief at Dept of Education. He threatens free speech and civil rights for LGBTQ & pro-Palestinian students. He should be defeated. WATCH THIS VIDEO: https://t.co/4O04Vhh3OE https://t.co/jKad5CJ4z4
— James J. Zogby (@jjz1600) June 6, 2018
However, the Endowment for Middle East Truth, or EMET, refuted that sentiment.
“EMET is absolutely thrilled that Ken Marcus has been confirmed today by the United States Senate for his position of US Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights, a position that he is pre-eminently qualified for, and which he had impeccably filled under the administration of George W. Bush,” Sarah Stern, founder and president of EMET, told Red Alert Politics. “Throughout his career, Ken has demonstrated a passion for civil rights and for justice, for all students, whether they be black, Hispanic, Muslim, Hindu or Jewish.”
