It is with sadness and a heavy heart that I heard the news of Attorney General Eric Holder resigning as U.S. Attorney General. Yet, I know that everything that has a beginning has an ending. Attorney General Holder is the fourth longest serving Attorney General.
As the first African American Attorney General, Eric Holder has been one of the best Attorney General’s that has served at the Department of Justice. I have felt that he has carried the true meaning of the Justice Department and the Constitution in fighting for “liberty and justice for all”. Those words have not been realized for everyone in our imperfect union. And with the fights against equal access to the voting ballot, the basis and backbone of our democracy, I find that Eric Holder has fought the hardest battles. His strong support for reducing the disproportionate sentencing guidelines of African Americans in certain drug cases showed strength and power to do the right thing. His fights and firm stance against the GOP who sanctioned him and found him in contempt of Congress for doing his job showed grace under fire. Every time that I have had an opportunity to hear him speak in person, I have taken the opportunity.
And Mr. Holder’s most recent stance in coming to Ferguson, MO, to show support for the community as the highest ranking justice official, gave calm to a volatile situation. He has recently spoke about police power should be exhibited fairly and just in reviewing the case of Michael Brown and other similar cases across the country. Attorney General Holder has never strayed from speaking his mind on race issues. That’s why he called the U.S. a nation of cowards for our failure to do the work of justice and address the issues of racism in this country.
It is my hope that his work will continue with his successor. His work must continue and the dream must move towards reality. In his words, Attorney General Holder said:
“Work remains to be done – but our list of accomplishments is real. Over the last six years, our Administration has made historic gains in realizing the principles of the founding documents, and fought to protect the most sacred of American rights: the right to vote. We have begun to realize the promise of equality for our LGBT brothers and sisters and their families. We have begun to significantly reform our criminal justice system and reconnect those who bravely serve in law enforcement with the communities they protect. We have kept faith with our belief in the power of the greatest judicial system the world has ever known to fairly and effectively adjudicate any cases that are brought before it, including those that involve the security of the nation we both love so dearly. We have taken steps to protect the environment and make more fair the rules by which our commercial enterprises operate. And we have held accountable those who would harm the American people either through violent means or the misuse of economic or political power.”
Thank you Mr. Holder for all that you have done to advance the dream of liberty and justice for all.
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