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Mary Frances Berry, blunt-spoken chairwoman of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, resigned Tuesday after more than two decades of criticizing the governments, both Democratic and Republican, that she served. Mary Frances Berry resigned from the civil rights panel after more than two decades of criticizing the governments that she served. Berry, an independent, and Democratic Vice Chairman Cruz Reynoso sent resignation letters to President Bush a day after the White House moved to replace the two. Both had resisted leaving Monday, arguing their terms wouldn't expire until midnight Jan. 21, 2005. The White House maintained that their six-year terms expired Sunday, and Berry and Reynoso had been replaced. In brief letters to Bush, Berry and Reynoso said they believed they still had more time to serve but it wasn't worth the fight. "Given that the conclusion of my tenure is only a few weeks away, a legal challenge would be an unwise expenditure of resources," wrote Berry, a civil rights history professor at the University of Pennsylvania. "Therefore, I am resigning my position as commissioner on the United States Commission on Civil Rights effective immediately." Berry did not reflect in her letter on her more than two decades on the commission, during which she served under five presidents and criticized them all. White House spokesman Ken Lisaius said Berry and Reynoso's terms on the commission had ended. "While we are grateful for the service of Berry and Reynoso, their terms ended, and their replacements have been named, and we're working on an orderly transition," Lisaius said. "The president is moving now to ensure the commission has direction and leadership to continue its work." [more] and [more] and [more]

Bush vs. Berry -- Battle Over Future of Civil Rights Panel [more]