Posted on 07/07/2012 4:32:53 PM PDT by Libloather
Holder says civil rights ‘under renewed threat’
By Meghashyam Mali - 07/07/12 06:35 PM ET
In an address to the National Council of La Raza convention in Las Vegas on Saturday, Attorney General Eric Holder told the Hispanic advocacy group that the gains of the Civil Rights era were coming “under renewed threat,” and touted the administration’s efforts in protecting the rights of minority groups and immigrants.
“Many of you know this firsthand – and have felt the impact of division, and even discrimination, in your own lives,” said Holder in his address, according to prepared remarks released by the Justice Department.”
The attorney general pledged that the civil rights advocacy group would “never have a more committed partner than the United States Department of Justice” and touted the administration’s record on those issues.
In particular, Holder highlighted the Supreme Court’s ruling last week striking down much of Arizona’s law targeting illegal immigration.
In a 5-3 ruling, the court rejected most provisions of the law, but let stand a key measure allowing police to check the legal status of those stopped on suspicion of committing unrelated offenses.
Holder said with the decision, the justices were “confirming the federal government’s exclusive authority to regulate with regard to immigration issues.”
But Holder, expressed concerns over the provision left standing. “We’ll work to ensure – as the Court affirmed – that such laws cannot be seen as a license to engage in racial profiling. And we’ll continue to enforce federal prohibitions against racial and ethnic discrimination, in order – as President Obama has promised – to “uphold our tradition as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants,” he said.
The attorney general also touted the administration’s decision to halt the deportation of some young illegal immigrants, a move popular within the Hispanic community, calling it “a significant – and long-overdue – improvement to our nation’s immigration policy.”
Holder said the next step was for lawmakers to push through more comprehensive immigration reform and he said the administration would “keep working with Congressional leaders – from both parties – to advance the passage of critical legislation like the DREAM Act.”
Holder's address to the prominent Hispanic organization comes as both President Obama and presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney’s campaigns boost their efforts to win over voters from the key demographic. Hispanics hold sway in many pivotal battleground states, adding to their importance this election cycle.
Polls, however, show Hispanics overwhelmingly backing Obama, bolstered in part by the decision to change deportation rules.
Holder told the civil rights group that the DOJ would remain vigilant to protect the rights of all Americans.
“Over the past three years, our Civil Rights Division has filed more criminal civil rights cases than during any other period in its history – including record numbers of human trafficking, hate crimes, and police misconduct cases,” said Holder, pledging that such efforts would remain a "top priority" for the department.
The Obama administration is also sending Vice President Biden to the convention. He is scheduled to speak on Tuesday.
Romney, however, will not be attending, and chose instead to send a surrogate, former Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez. Gutierrez was not given a speaking role and instead met with attendees at the conference.
They aren't considered a terrorist organization yet?
“Civil rights” is evidently code for “license to steal elections.”
Romney, however, will not be attending, and chose instead to send a surrogate, former Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez.
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So, Romney is blowing off the Hispanic vote. That’s smart. (/s)
Racists. Aka “Holder’s people.”
Now that “ DeathCare “ has “passed” the SC ....the RinoCracy has no need for Romney. Romney was their ace-in-the-hole if the SC tanked the bill.
Watch him walk away from the campaign.
It would be nice if the Department of Justice was as concerned about the rights of American Citizens as they are of illegals.
Romney should be speaking before La Raza, telling them about the hundreds of Mexican citizens have been killed as a result of Holder's "Fast and Furious" program.
Funny, he told the Black Panthers in Philadelphia the same thing after he found complaints of their efforts to protect the polls to be racially motivated and not worth investigating.
Joseph Goebbels with a tan.
The Attorney General of the USA addresses an organization called “The Race.” How nice. A Black racist addresses an organization of Mexican racists. How much lower can we go?
Eeeffff you Holder ....Marxist piece of Strunz
Ah never mind i’ll just get in trouble for what i wanna say !
I would have to think that hispanics should be worried about black thugs playing the race war against them. I hope they know that holder and his boss will do nothing to a black man that is caught hurting a hispanic. It’s not like bammy did anything for 3 and a half years for LaRaza—only that he really needed their votes now did he mandate that deportions stop.
I think its funny hearing Holder complain about people’s civil rights being violated when he had NO problem with the Black Panthers intimidating voters in Philly in 2008..oh yeah I forgot, the Black Panthers are “Holders people.” I guess in Holder’s delusional mind, its OK to intimidate voters and infringe on their civil rights, as long as they are white and Republican
It means they are unable to compete on a level playing field.
Obama’s administration has set race relations back at least 80 - 90 years.
While Holder addresses “The Race”, he and Obama ignore the legions of inner city black youth born out of wedlock and turned feral to feed on their own communities to the detriment of all.
Exactly what I thought.
I'm afraid Romney is a "lightweight" as a campaigner and might end up being as ineffective as McCain.
Romney has run for some office or another 22 times prior to running for President. He LOST 17 of those attempts. Need I say more.
They shouldn’t be taken seriously
The political history of Abraham Lincoln was filled with strike outs too... and so what.
It’s super PACs that will end up advertising things on behalf of Mitt Romney that Mitt doesn’t want to advertise himself.
Why should most American voting capable Hispanics even want Hispandering to illegales, anyhow? It would be like American blacks wanting pandering to undocumented Kenyans... oh, wait....
Yours is better, especially the mustache.
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