USCCR Public Education Campaign to End Civil Rights

US Commission on Civil Rights

Public Education Campaign to End Campus Anti-Semitism

Statute of Limitations

Please be aware that the period of time within which you may file a civil rights complaint may be limited by law.

Federal Agencies

The U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Educational Opportunities Section states that written civil rights complaints must typically be filed with federal agencies within 180 days of the date the alleged incident of discrimination occurred. See: Your Rights Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights will typically only accept civil rights complaints filed within 180 days of the date the alleged incident of discrimination occurred. See: OCR’s Complaint Resolution Procedure

It is important to remember that the Office for Civil Rights’ jurisdiction is based on ancestry or ethnic characteristics, since it does not have jurisdiction to investigate claims of religious discrimination per se. Hon. Stephanie Monroe, Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights, has recently stated that the Office for Civil Rights will not investigate allegations of anti-Semitic harassment unless the allegations also include other forms of discrimination over which the Office for Civil Rights has subject matter jurisdiction.

State Agencies

We urge you to contact your state’s civil rights agencies to learn how much time you have to file a civil rights complaint in your state. These agencies usually go by such names as “human relations commission.” If you do not know how to identify your state’s civil rights agencies contact the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights or 1-800-552-6843 for assistance.

You should be aware that

· Some states only accept civil rights complaints filed within 180 days of the date the alleged incident of discrimination occurred.