(KCPW News) U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was in Salt Lake City Friday deliver the keynote speech for the Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Commission annual luncheon. Holder, the nation’s first African-American attorney general, says the country still has a lot of work to do in order to achieve equal rights for all Americans.
“It cannot be denied that there are communities where the doors to learning and job opportunities remain firmly closed, Holder said. “Where the promise of equal justice is unfulfilled, and where just as Dr. King observed five decades ago, unity is the great need of the hour.”
Holder says Americans must resist the temptation to slip into cynicism and despair; and instead should focus on Dr. King’s belief that everyone has the power to make a difference.
He told the audience he is not backing down when it comes to protecting the rights of all Americans in schools, places of worship, voting booths and border areas.
“In fact during the administrations first fiscal year, the department filed a record number of civil rights criminal cases, Holder said. ” The following year we broke that record, a success that was followed with the largest human trafficking prosecution in history and the opening of more than 100 matters under the landmark Hate Crimes Prevention Act that we worked so tirelessly to advance.”
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff introduced Holder, and says he has been the easiest U.S. Attorney General to work with in his three terms as the state’s Attorney General.
How do you feel about this topic?
Is there anything else you think we should know? We'd like to hear your thoughts. Send us your feedback using the form below.
