Michigan Department of Civil Rights

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Michigan Department of Civil Rights

The Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) is a state department created in 1965 to support the Michigan Civil Rights Commission, which was established by Michigan’s 1963 constitution. The Commission directs the department and has eight members. The Executive Director is John E. Johnson, Jr.

MDCR investigates discrimination complaints, resolves them, and runs educational programs to promote voluntary compliance with civil rights laws.

History and structure: The 1963 constitution created the Civil Rights Commission; in 1965 the department was formed. Over the years, several commissions joined the department, including the Michigan Women’s Commission in 1991, and the Indian Affairs Commission and the Commission on Spanish Speaking Affairs by 1998. In 2011, the governor added groups such as the Commission on Disability Concerns and the Division on Deaf and Hard of Hearing, plus the Asian Pacific American and Hispanic/Latino Commissions. In 2016 the Hispanic/Latino and Asian Pacific American Affairs Commissions moved to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

Key actions and issues: In 2013, the department filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Education against 35 Michigan high schools over American Indian mascots; the Education Department dismissed the case. The MDCR has produced issue papers and policy documents, including 2006–2017 migrant and seasonal farmworker reports and a January 2013 LGBT Inclusion Under Michigan Law report.

Controversies and notable events: In 2014 the department blocked Barack Obama’s Twitter account from following its own account. That year the civil rights commission voted to pay a $24,740 bonus to Executive Director Agustin Arbulu in a secret meeting that violated Michigan’s open meetings law; the vote was redone in open session and Arbulu rejected the bonus. In 2018 Ira Combs, described by Michigan Radio as a prominent anti-LGBT activist, was appointed to the civil rights commission, drawing bipartisan concern. In November 2020 the Michigan Women’s Commission was transferred to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.

Locations and contact: The department is headquartered in Lansing, Michigan. Website: michigan.gov/mdcr.