Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Lucy McBath (GA-06) and Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) led 24 other House Democrats in sending a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi urging her to reverse course on the Trump Administration’s plans to eliminate the Community Relations Service (CRS), which was established by the Civil Rights of 1964. CRS is known as “America’s Peacemaker” and brings together law enforcement and local communities to address the root causes of tension and violence in the wake of a mass shooting or other community conflict.
“CRS plays a critical role in responding to community conflict and is known as ‘America’s Peacemaker’ with field offices across the country to maximize their accessibility and impact for all communities,” the lawmakers wrote. “CRS brings together law enforcement and local communities to facilitate peaceful resolutions and to help communities develop the capacity to prevent and respond to incidents rooted in hate. We strongly urge you to abandon any plans of dissolving the work of the Community Relations Service.”
The Members of Congress also highlighted CRS’ recent role in preventing community violence.
“CRS’s role in reducing tensions in communities extends to campus tensions, and CRS has developed an approach to help campus leaders, students, and law enforcement to find solutions that address the sources of tension and conflict,” the letter states. “Its work also kept places of worship safe after a series of high-profile attacks in recent years by bringing together best practices against these threats. Recently, CRS deployed teams to Milwaukee and Chicago during the Republican and Democratic National Political Conventions in 2024 to work with law enforcement, community groups, and protest groups to reduce tension, prevent violence and ensure that First Amendment rights were protected.”
CRS been expanded several times via subsequent bipartisan laws, including the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act signed into law by President Bush in 2008.
“We are aware that during the previous Trump Administration there was a similar effort to abandon the valuable work of the Community Relations Service by recommending its elimination in budget proposals and reducing staffing. As the administration once again considers unilaterally eliminating an agency established by Congress and enshrined into law, we strongly urge you to reconsider,” the letter concludes.
The letter was also signed by: Representatives Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Danny Davis (IL-07), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Eleanor Norton (DC-AL), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Judy Chu (CA-28), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Henry Johnson (GA-04), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Donald Beyer (VA-08), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-06), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Shomari Figures (AL-02), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), and Summer Lee (PA-12).
Full text of the letter can be found HERE and below.
Dear Attorney General Bondi:
We write to you concerning recent reports that you are considering a significant restructuring of the Department of Justice (DOJ) that includes eliminating the Community Relations Service (CRS). CRS plays a critical role in responding to community conflict and is known as “America’s Peacemaker” with field offices across the country to maximize their accessibility and impact for all communities. CRS brings together law enforcement and local communities to facilitate peaceful resolutions and to help communities develop the capacity to prevent and respond to incidents rooted in hate. We strongly urge you to abandon any plans of dissolving the work of the Community Relations Service.
CRS was established by Title X of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the scope of its valuable work has been expanded several times via subsequent bipartisan laws, including the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act (Pub. L. 110-334) signed into law by President Bush in 2008. Violence can shatter a community. Resolving the root of violence requires a solution that lies beyond the courtroom. The role of the Community Relations Service as neither investigator nor prosecutor but as a peacemaker has been credited with averting violence after “Bloody Sunday” in 1965, continuing to present day.
CRS’s role in reducing tensions in communities extends to campus tensions, and CRS has developed an approach to help campus leaders, students, and law enforcement to find solutions that address the sources of tension and conflict. Its work has also kept places of worship safe after a series of high-profile attacks in recent years by bringing together best practices against these threats. Recently, CRS deployed teams to Milwaukee and Chicago during the Republican and Democratic National Political Conventions in 2024 to work with law enforcement, community groups, and protest groups to reduce tension, prevent violence and ensure that First Amendment rights were protected.
The work of the conciliation specialists as “peacemakers” is unique and cannot be easily replicated or undertaken by another department. CRS supports state and local government officials, law enforcement officers, community leaders, schools, faith leaders, and others to resolve and prevent community conflict. Their work improves police and community relationships, thereby improving public safety.
We are aware that during the previous Trump Administration there was a similar effort to abandon the valuable work of the Community Relations Service by recommending its elimination in budget proposals and reducing staffing. As the administration once again considers unilaterally eliminating an agency established by Congress and enshrined into law, we strongly urge you to reconsider.