Eric Holder’s “My People” — There’s No Justification for the DOJ to Look the Other Way on Civil Rights Violations (video)
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on March 3, 2011
H/t to zero hedge for this waggish graphic…
“MY PEOPLE.”
Troubling, revealing statement from US Attorney General Eric Holder.
What if Michael Mukasey, Alberto Gonzales, or John Ashcroft, all attorneys general under George W. Bush, had said anything similar to what AG Eric Holder said yesterday during the House Appropriations subcommittee hearing? The left-wing media would have unleashed all sorts of frothing-at-the-mouth condemnations. And rightfully so.
Holder is in the highest judicial position in the country. He’s the senior legal adviser to the nation. His “my people” statement of defense was grievously inappropriate for anyone to say — no matter his or her race, color, or creed — when in this supreme position of federal law enforcement.
I’ve written extensively in the past on this New Black Panther Party voter intimidation case in Philadelphia that started on Election Day 2008… if you’re not quite up to speed on this ever-developing story, click here, here, here, and here, as well as here, here, and here for previous posts and some shocking videos.
Yes, Mr. Holder, millions of Americans do agree that the oppression and atrocities against blacks in our nation were beyond horrific, beyond disgusting — thankfully, through courageous efforts of many Americans during the civil rights era — both black AND white — we’ve come a long way from that disgraceful period in our history and have moved on. In America today, there is more race diversity, tolerance, religious freedom, and opportunities for ALL people here than there is in most nations of the world.
Are there still some racists in America? Of course. Are we perfect in America? Of course not. But that was NOT what was asked of AG Holder.
The civil rights movement was more than a half century ago. Bringing it up and expounding upon it as he did during his hearing as an emotional red herring was flat out WRONG (did his voice actually crack?). I could be wrong, but this testimony could conceivably be interpreted as additional evidence of race-influenced upholdings of federal law.
None of what AG Holder said in the above clip had ANYTHING to do with explaining why he abruptly dropped the slam-dunk New Black Panther Party case of voter intimidation just before a verdict came in. Why his Civil Rights division is demonstrating, and substantiated by a number of sworn statements from witnesses, a disturbing pattern of what appears to be an ongoing (and illegal) refusal to pursue civil rights violations if committed by a member of a minority or against whites.
There is no justification, NONE, for the nation’s Department of Justice to look the other way on civil rights violations, to refuse to enforce the laws in a racially neutral manner, or to politicize litigation decisions.
Holder blatantly avoided answering the questions posed by Rep. John Culberson. Instead, he shook a metaphorical finger when he gave a civil rights history lesson instead.
From The Blaze, Holder: Focus on Black Panther Case Demeans ‘My People’:
Continuing to face down questions as to why the U.S. Justice Department went easy on prosecuting members of the New Black Panther Party who stood armed with nightsticks outside a Philadelphia polling location during the 2008 presidential election, Attorney General Eric Holder expressed his personal frustration over the criticism that race played a role.
During a hearing of a House Appropriations subcommittee Tuesday, Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas, accused Holder’s DOJ of failing to cooperate with a Civil Rights Commission investigation into the decision to dismiss the case. Holder seemed to take personal offense when Culberson read comments from former Democratic activist Bartle Bull condemning the decision as the most serious act of voter intimidation he had witnessed during his career.
“Think about that,” Holder fired back. “When you compare what people endured in the South in the 60s to try to get the right to vote for African Americans, to compare what people subjected to that with what happened in Philadelphia, which was inappropriate….to describe it in those terms I think does a great disservice to people who put their lives on the line for my people,” said Holder, an African American.
“To compare that kind of courage, that kind of action, to say some Black Panther incident is of greater concern to us, historically, I think just flies in the face of history,” the attorney general said.
Earlier in the hearing, Culberson insisted that race had indeed affected the DOJ’s decision-making process, accusing Holder’s agency of having a “double standard” when it comes to the rights of whites vs. blacks.
From Another Black Conservative, Eric Holder: Focus on Black Panther intimidation case demeans “my people”:
It sounds like Holder is using race to deflect criticism of his handling of the Black Panther case. As a black man he knows all too well how voter intimidation was used against our people. As the first black attorney general, he should stand as a vanguard against all voter intimidation whether it is perpetrated by blacks, whites, the left or the right. He should have zero tolerance for voter intimidation rather than splitting hairs over the degree of the offense.
Despite Holder’s big talk about America being a nation of coward when it comes to race, he isn’t being too brave here.
From Gateway Pundit, Eric Holder: Black Panther Case Demeans “My People”:
Eric Holder told the House Appropriations subcommittee that the New Black Panther voter intimidation case demeans “my people.”
The Politico reported:
Attorney General Eric Holder finally got fed up Tuesday with claims that the Justice Department went easy in a voting rights case against members of the New Black Panther Party because they are African American.
Holder’s frustration over the criticism became evident during a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing as Rep. John Culberson (R-Texas) accused the Justice Department of failing to cooperate with a Civil Rights Commission investigation into the handling of the 2008 incident in which Black Panthers in intimidating outfits and wielding a club stood outside a polling place in Philadelphia.
The Attorney General seemed to take personal offense at a comment Culberson read in which former Democratic activist Bartle Bull called the incident the most serious act of voter intimidation he had witnessed in his career.
“Think about that,” Holder said. “When you compare what people endured in the South in the 60s to try to get the right to vote for African Americans, and to compare what people were subjected to there to what happened in Philadelphia—which was inappropriate, certainly that…to describe it in those terms I think does a great disservice to people who put their lives on the line, who risked all, for my people,” said Holder, who is black.
In the next two videos, conservative radio talk show host Mark Levin weighs in…
Mark Levin – I Don’t Need a History Lesson from Eric Holder | March 1, 2011
Mark Levin – If We Are Not Go to Pursue Race Cases, Then Why Do We Have a Civil Rights Division | March 1, 2011
From The Clarion Advisory, Eric Holder: Black Panther Case Demeans “My People”:
I find this statement from Eric Holder totally unprofessional and absolutely wrong for the Attorney General of the United States to say.
“Think about that,” Holder said. “When you compare what people endured in the South in the 60s to try to get the right to vote for African Americans, and to compare what people were subjected to there to what happened in Philadelphia—which was inappropriate, certainly that…to describe it in those terms I think does a great disservice to people who put their lives on the line, who risked all, for my people,” said Holder, who is black.
I get that blacks use that term, my people a lot, but when you are in a position of power and whose job is to uphold the laws of the United States, I find this statement disturbing on many levels. Do you, Eric, place “your people” above the law? That would seem to be the case in regard to the Black Panther case. And what’s this pap about what happened in the 60′s? The rule of law IS the rule of law. You aren’t supposed to bring emotion and feelings up when you are supposed to clinically apply the law. What happened in the 60s IS precisely why we have those laws in place that the Black Panthers broke. The law does not only apply to blacks. It applies to ALL Americans. Red, white, black, yellow, green, Democrat, Republican, Union, non-Union, etc.
From Voting Female, Eric Holder: “My People” get a pass meaning ‘you people can go screw’:
Well well well… Eric Holder, his back against the wall, blurts out some sort of a “justification” for not prosecuting the Black Panthers and at the same time claims he is not a racist.
Hey Holder? You’re a racist, dude. just sayin’.
And, being the US Attorney General, your blinder-justice is not just racist, it is illegal. You sir, are a criminal.
From The American Survival Guide:
You disingenuous hypocritical lying sack of racist sh……
You’re the A.G. of The United States for God’s sake ! Straw-man arguments and completely unrelated comparisons are beneath first-week law students.
Your resignation should have been demanded on the spot for making that statement.
During the hearing, Holder brought up his sister-in-law, Vivian Malone Jones, who is famous for her part in the Stand in the Schoolhouse Door, which led to integration at the University of Alabama.
Her incredible courage is no comparison to the hate-driven thuggery and raging racism of the New Black Panther Party.
New Black Panthers: Samir Shabazz and Jerry Jackson, two men arrested in 2008 Philadelphia voter intimidation case, DOJ dropped case just as verdict was coming in - AG Holder is now under investigation
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