For Immediate Release: Friday, November  6, 2015
Contact: Donna De La Cruz, [email protected] (202) 339-9331

Calls on President to Issue an Executive Order to ‘Ban the Box’ for Federal Contractor Hiring

(WASHINGTON)—President Obama’s announcement to direct the Office of Personnel Management to delay questions of a job seekers’ conviction history on job applications is a positive first step that will reduce discrimination for people seeking employment around the country. However, the Administration should go further in giving formerly incarcerated people a full opportunity to re-enter society and support their families.

“The communities across the country that I have worked with applaud President Obama’s announcement as a first step, and look forward to reviewing the details,” said Zulema Rodriguez, Deputy Campaign Director at Center for Community Change.  “They have pushed this fight forward for more than 10 years and will continue to organize until all 70 million people trapped by the current criminal justice system are able to earn a living wage to support their loved ones.”

The announcement shows a good start but needs a stronger finish, the President must use his executive authority to extend ban the box to federal contractors, not only government agencies.

“Simply asking government agencies to follow this directive is not enough to open doors and provide opportunities for the millions of Americans to contribute to their communities and provide for their families,” said Rodriguez. Federal employees, together with federal contractors and subcontractors, make up twenty-five percent of the total U.S. workforce.

Community Change works with state and local grassroots organizations and directly affected communities across the country, along with other allied organizations, to demonstrate the broad public support for these issues and lift up the experiences of directly affected people who experience barriers to employment because of a justice system that targets low-income people and communities of color.

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