There is a need for a greater effort to address the causes and effects of discrimination in Oregon. With this in mind, State Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian is pleased to announce the creation of the Oregon Council on Civil Rights (OCCR). This Council will work closely with Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) and its Civil Rights Division over the coming months and years to fight for better education on and enforcement of civil rights.

While we must be proud of the progress we have made in civil rights, we must also be aware of how much work there is left to do. From employment-based discrimination to struggles in fair housing, millions of Americans still face discrimination and civil rights violations on a daily basis. We need the OCCR because it is our responsibility to fight this wrong.