Holder’s Civil Rights Act Bash Sparks Questions

Attorney General Eric Holder is set to deliver the keynote address at a celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. But some are questioning the timing of the event, given the ongoing controversy surrounding Holder’s leadership at the nation’s top law enforcement agency.

The event, co-hosted by Howard University, will feature a lineup of high-profile speakers, including Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. The celebration will honor the civil rights movement and the groundbreaking act that prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault will lead a panel discussion on the impact of the Civil Rights Act, featuring a panel of civil rights leaders, including Julian Bond and Joan Trumpauer Mulholland. The event will be live streamed at http://tinyurl.com/och84d4.

The celebration will take place on Tuesday, July 15, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. EDT, in Cramton Auditorium at Howard University. Media interested in attending must RSVP to Erica Lacy at erica.lacy@usdoj.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT, on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Attorney General Holder’s keynote address is expected to be a highlight of the celebration, but some are questioning whether the event is a distraction from the ongoing controversy surrounding Holder’s leadership. The event is being seen by some as a attempt to boost Holder’s public image and deflect criticism of his handling of key issues, including the Benghazi scandal and the NSA surveillance program.

Howard University Interim President Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick, will also deliver remarks at the event, along with Ambassador Andrew Young and Deputy Attorney General James Cole. Associate Attorney General Tony West will also be in attendance.

The event will be a chance for Holder to reflect on the progress made in the civil rights movement and to chart a course for the future. But with the ongoing controversy surrounding his leadership, it remains to be seen whether the event will be seen as a success or a distraction.

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