This past Wednesday, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the federal government must continue the Census 2020 counting process through October 31. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who oversees the Census Bureau, had announced October 5 as the end date for all counting efforts.
This latest ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed by a coalition of civil rights organizations led by the National Urban League. The Trump Administration sought to appeal the ruling last month, where the judge issued a restraining order stopping the Census Bureau from terminating their count a month ahead of schedule.
Again, we see this administration try to weaponize a federal institution for political gain by injecting confusion and doubt into a bedrock democratic process. By issuing last-minute schedule changes to rush the census count, the administration seeks to harm the 2020 Census’s integrity, which would result in devastating undercounts of vulnerable communities.
We will continue to fight against threats to our representation and protect our communities from abuses of power. Now we ask that everyone do their part and complete their census documents. If you have not done so, take the time to respond online, by phone, or by mail today. Take ten minutes for ten years of proper representation and the appropriate allocation of billions of federal dollars.
We have until October 31 to Make Black Count in the 2020 Census.