Celebrating 75 Years
In 1945, New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination became the first state-level civil rights statute in the country. The Division on Civil Rights is charged with enforcing this law, and with preventing and eliminating discrimination in the state of New Jersey.
75th Anniversary
On April 16, 1945, Governor Walter E. Edge signed a bill sponsored by Dr. James O. Hill, enacting the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination and creating the Division Against Discrimination (now known as the Division on Civil Rights). Dr. Hill, who served as State Assemblyman for Newark, drafted the law to prevent discrimination on account of race, creed, color, and national origin or ancestry, making the LAD the nation’s very first state civil rights statute to go into effect 75 years ago. We thank Governor Edge and Dr. Hill, and realize that many feel the nation is literally at the edge of a hill.
The New Jersey Division on Civil Rights invites all community members to join us in April 2021 to re-imagine how to create a more equitable future. The joint pandemics of COVID-19 and systemic racism have impacted all areas of life: public health, education, employment, housing, and criminal justice. Spring represents rebirth and we invite you to join us for a state-wide convening, a participatory virtual experience for learning, networking, and transformation. The convening will cultivate community, identify actionable principles for equity, scale effective justice, and bring about multi-faceted community healing.
The virtual community event includes a luminary keynote and panelists, a celebratory tribute to our New Jersey civil rights heroes, an interactive timeline display and exhibit showcase, strategic and collaborative sessions around discrimination and harassment, health equity, anti-racism, youth anti-bias engagement, fair housing, and more.
The mission of the Division on Civil Rights is to prevent, eliminate, and remedy discrimination and bias-based harassment in employment, housing, and places of public accommodation throughout New Jersey. DCR’s vision is a New Jersey free from discrimination and bias where all people are treated with equal dignity and equal respect and have access to equal opportunity. The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) prohibits discrimination and harassment based on actual or perceived race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, and other protected characteristics. The law applies in employment, housing, and places of public accommodation (generally, places open to the public, including businesses, restaurants, schools, summer camps, medical providers, government agencies, etc.).
Video Recordings
The New Jersey Division on Civil Rights invites all community members to join us for the #StopTheHate Series in April 2021 to re-imagine how to create a more equitable future. Please visit the session links to learn more and register.
Virtual Exhibit
The New Jersey Division on Civil Rights invites all community members to join us for the #StopTheHate Series in April 2021 to re-imagine how to create a more equitable future. Please visit our virtual exhibits to learn more about our work and help us celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Law Against Discrimination.
Recent DCR News
AG Platkin, Division on Civil Rights Announce Enforcement Actions in Ten Cases Involving Alleged Housing Discrimination
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) announced today that DCR has issued Findings of Probable Cause in 10 cases alleging that landlords and real estate agents violated the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) by denying housing to individuals who stated that they wished to pay their rent using Section 8 vouchers, a form of government rental assistance.
Attorney General Platkin and Division on Civil Rights Announce Enforcement Actions Against Crowne Plaza Edison Hotel for Alleged Disability Discrimination
Hotel Allegedly Failed to Provide Accessible Restrooms for Spina Bifida Conference AttendeesFor Immediate Release: April 3, 2024 Office of the Attorney General- Matthew J. Platkin, Attorney GeneralDivision on Civil Rights- Sundeep Iyer, DirectorFor Further...
Attorney General Platkin and Division on Civil Rights Announce Enforcement Actions Against Cinnaminson Township Board of Education
Division Announces Findings of Probable Cause in Three Cases Involving Alleged Gender and Pregnancy DiscriminationFor Immediate Release: March 27, 2024 Office of the Attorney General- Matthew J. Platkin, Attorney GeneralDivision on Civil Rights- Sundeep Iyer,...
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