Eric Holder Announces Justice Department Plan to Target Racial Profiling

[Purveyor]

Source: NBC NEWS

In the wake of clashes at protests in Ferguson, Missouri, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder says new Justice Department guidance will aim to end racial profiling and ensure fair and effective policing.

Holder said in a speech Monday at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta — where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was a pastor — that he will unveil details of the plan soon.

"In the coming days, I will announce updated Justice Department guidance regarding profiling by federal law enforcement. This will institute rigorous new standards — and robust safeguards — to help end racial profiling, once and for all," Holder said. "This new guidance will codify our commitment to the very highest standards of fair and effective policing."

The president instructed Holder to hold regional meetings on building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve after the conflicts in Ferguson. Monday's meeting in Atlanta was the first.

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/eric-holder-announces-justice-department-plan-target-racial-profiling-n259456

[heaven05]

1. I'll believe it

when I see it...... And seriously, with all the racist idiots out there hiding behind a badge with itchy trigger fingers wanting to "make their bones" on murdering a black person, male usually, it won't happen anytime soon. Why? Cause this fucking country has had 300 years to clean up this racist horseshit and while the will may be there in a lot of people there are just not enough decent people willing to put their lives on the line for a bunch of 'others'. Privilege is not something given up easily.

[Cha]

7. This is a Good start..and I for one Appreciate it, heaven. And, this in from Atlanta!..

The Community Speaks: A Town Hall at Ebenezer Baptist Church (where Eric Holder spoke today)..

Justin Tanner @JustinGTanner
Follow
Tonight, Mayor @KasimReed announced that the Atlanta Police Department will serve as a pilot for police body cameras. #CommunitySpeaksAtl
4:05 PM - 1 Dec 2014 231 Retweets 94 favorites

http://theobamadiary.com/2014/12/01/the-community-speaks-a-town-hall-at-ebenezer-baptist-church/

[heaven05]

25. any start is a good start

I guess. My skepticism outweighs belief when it comes to any national addressing of problems revolving around this recent execution/murder. BUT, you are right. Body cameras on police officers, all police officers that aren't 'broken' off turned off are a great idea. They will short circuit a lot of draconian behavior by the brown shirts.

[Cha]

30. Yes, Body Cameras on Police Officers.. Pilot program starting in Atlanta, Georgia..! Bet Darren

Wilson is glad he didn't have one.

Michael Brown

[Darb]

12. Way to shit on it right out of the box.

Thanks for nothing.

[sendero]

21. More talk from Holder..

... the most ineffectual douchebag of an attorney general as has ever held the office.

You think all this blather will amount to jack shit? You have not been paying attention.

[geek tragedy]

23. No, you are the one who has not been paying attention to the work of the civil

rights division under Holder. Especially on voting rights.

Your Holder Hate is not a substitute for rational policy analysis.

The fact that you rank him below Alberto Gonzales, John Ashcroft, Ed Meese, and John Mitchell says more about you than him.

[TheKentuckian]

34. What is this amazing work? Seems like more folks are disenfranchised than when he was appointed

No doubt the disenfranchisement efforts have ramped up but that adversity has certainly not been overcome nor has the line been held.

He also stinks to high heaven in other areas to the tune of Republican level deplorable that this seems like a rhetoric heavy brand polishing effort than fact based on wins on the ground.

If he was doing as great a job as often presented there would be some serious whining coming from the cracker element but strangely if there is any outcry it will have to sought out while at the same time the gnashing of teeth can be heard around the globe for the choice of tie color.

Why are these accomplishments not being crowed about specifically? I lean toward them being overstated, perhaps drastically. Holder is so occupied kissing banker ass, busting weed, and advancing the security state that I find it difficult to believe he has time for anything else.

[geek tragedy]

38. Why don't you do some research on his voting rights record

instead of dismissing it without knowing the facts?

DOJ has fought back against numerous voter ID laws, suing several states.

Same story on anti- immigrant laws passed in places like Arizona.

You can also look at his work on sentencing disparity.

But, none of those are affluent white liberal Internet complainer issues, so they don't matter to a lot of people.

And the wingnuts and racists hate him plenty. Again, just because you do not pay attention does not mean it does not happen.

[TheKentuckian]

41. When did I get white and affluent? I'm not making the claim. If he is so accomplished what are the

accomplishments?

[geek tragedy]

43. derp.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=eric+holder+civil+rights+accomplishments

[TheKentuckian]

46. Derp, you don't even think have much of a case or you'd be making it.

I found - In the past four fiscal years (2009-2012), the Department has prosecuted 29 percent more hate crime cases than were prosecuted in the previous three fiscal years (2005-2008).

I found that poll watchers were dispatched.

I found that he isn't a TeaPubliKlan and doesn't hate black people so resources were put back into the Civil Rights division.

I found people claiming he is a great asset to civil rights as you have.

I think he is what I thought he was and the fact that these games are being played rather than getting on the soapbox loud and proud that you want to argue but don't want to make a case.

Don't like what I came up with? Support your own position.

[geek tragedy]

47. You have proven that you will dismiss any good he has done because

you are emotionally invested in hating him.

Not gonna waste any more time arguing with a brick wall. Last word is yours.

[Cha]

31. "..the most ineffectual douchebag of an attorney general as has ever held the office." That says

Everything about you and nothing about AG Holder.

[heaven05]

22. Did not mean to offend

just too damn cynical, I guess to believe much anymore coming from elected officials. I hope he follows though, I really do.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Hope something can be done. This is surely the time. Shouldn't wait a moment longer. n/t

[Hulk]

3. Watch the heads on fox-nonsense explode!

This is going to put ALL their undies in a bind. I love it!

[branford]

4. Read the statement carefully.

The new DOJ guidelines will apply to federal law enforcement, not local and state police, where the problems being addressed are not a major concern.

I certainly have no general objections to such policies (subject to actual review when they are released), but Holder's statements and policies will make little difference to the problem of racial profiling and related issues overall, and are mainly designed to calm the current situation.

[ReRe]

6. Exactly

That stuck out like a sore thumb to me too. You've go to listen to each and every word that comes out of their mouths. Is it true that he only has control of Federal LE, but little to no control over local and state police? Who controls State and Local LE?

[branford]

8. The policing power is generally reserved to the states.

The DOJ and other federal executive agencies simply do not control local and state police.

That does not mean that certain federal policies and legislation cannot positively impact the problem of racial profiling and related concerns, but it generally cannot be done by federal executive edict alone. Anything meaningful would require Congressional action, and mainly by offering incentives and resources to states and localities, and some broadening of civil rights statutes to make federal lawsuits more than empty threats except in the most egregious, widespread and provable circumstances.

[ReRe]

11. So, locally...

... the officials who should be speaking to the public about the alarming spectacle of the increasing militarization of the state and local police are the State Attorney Generals and Governors? State Chief's of Police?

[branford]

14. All of the above, and of course, state legislatures and local leaders and legislators.

However, the issue of the militarization of the police is very different from racial profiling and similar matters, and there could definitely be more done on the federal level for the former.

Local police forces are able to cheaply procure old military hardware through incentive programs from the Dept. of Defense. These programs exist through both congressional action and executive oversight. Obama, through the federal executive apparatus, could limit some of these military equipment transfers and sales, although certainly not all.

The problem with executive action, however, is political since that these programs are very popular with the general populace, the police and their unions, local and state authorities, large industrial and military employers (and their union workforce), the DOD and Congress. Any major executive action will have significant political blow-back for the president and Democrats, federal, state and local. A recent attempt to curtail the programs also just failed in Congress, and is unlikely to receive a better reception once the Republicans take full control.

I would additionally note that the burning buildings and rioting in Ferguson and elsewhere did not help the cause of building support among the general population for reducing the militarization of police forces.

[ReRe]

17. Well, frankly...

... I'm not at all sure that all those fires were started by the protesters. Don't you think it's kind of funny that we never hear who those perpetrators of arson and property damage were? Have there been any arrests for those specific crimes?

If I were the protesters (as a group), I'd want to see the mug shots of each and every perp. If none of the protesters recognize any of the perps, then someone needs to find out who the suspects are and there associations.

If you hear of any arrests of arsonists, looters, or just all around violent property damagers, please let me know. I would be interested to know about these individuals.

[branford]

19. I have no idea who exactly caused all the violence and destruction,

although I recall hearing reports that a number of arrests have been made in Ferguson and elsewhere.

The real issue, however, is the stark visuals on television and the internet. The police already have the support of an overall majority of the population. The videos of fires and violence by even a tiny minority of protesters simply emphasizes the police "under siege" narrative, regardless of its accuracy.

[ReRe]

20. Right...

The things that stuck out about the whole thing was 1.) the timing of the announcement by McCullough; 2.) the fact that there was an eye in the sky that night, when in earlier protests helos were not allowed; 3.) I only seen one fire engine and crew fighting one fire; 4.) the National Guard was no where in sight; 5.) no security guards or police or Guards guarding businesses.

[heaven05]

33. overall majority

of fearful idiots "demonizing" black people. Your other assertion is what you want to believe. Under siege is a good metaphor for the goddamn police since they help keep a large segment of the minority population in a state of siege. This BS by you is just that. A slick enabler of the amerikkkan way. You are slowly showing your true colors with all your slip ups. The videos are meant to paint the whole of the minority population in a bad light so the 'thug' narrative can seem, to the ignorant and stupid, to be true and pushed onto a willfully subservient white public. And there are a lot of the ignorant and stupid being led around by the nose, lapping up the excreta delivered by fox snooze and all the RW media. Guilliani calling the black population murderers. Those fucking idiots in ferguson now wanting to put charges on the step father of Michael Brown. Keep pushing the nice sounding, seemingly rational BS. You are good at it counselor.

[TheKentuckian]

35. Best to grin and bear whatever comes and hope for the better angels to carry the day

sometime, somewhere over the rainbow, huh?

[heaven05]

24. and they never

will address the problems revolving around race and police profiling, executions and murder. Especially in the 'problem' states. This country has had 3hundred YEARS+ to clean up it's act, ain't happened yet, ain't gonna happen cause too many people don't want it to happen...... period.

[ReRe]

28. You aren't saying...

... that we should just stop pressing for justice and change, are you?

[heaven05]

32. no

[TheKentuckian]

36. More like there will be little in the way of justice meekly and gently sanding the roughest edges

and pleading for decency.

Begging isn't pressing.

In fact, it is my increasing belief that marching and pleading actually encourages the worst elements, they perceive it as weakness and as servile, feeling that if they were us they would have killed ever last one of them back during slavery or died trying to the last man.

This is not about individual people but white America as a culture needs an asskicking in the worst way and I mean completely busted the fuck up.
There is a certain element of humanity that just cannot be dealt with reasonably and efforts to do so are just waving a proverbial red flag in front of a bull, they just don't respect anything else.

[ReRe]

40. I hope you are wrong,

but I fear you are right. I personally think violent bigots are psychopaths/sociopaths. In other words, Evil. And there's no treatment that can cure their disease of heart/mind short of institutionalization behind bars. But nooooooo, they permeate our society. From the NRA/KKK gun nuts on the streets and back country roads, to our system of so-called law enforcement & justice system (Wilson/Ferguson & St Louis Police Depts/McCullough & Nixon.) A combination of dash cams and lapel cams are the only way I can see to cure LEOs hardened hearts and insatiable itchy trigger fingers.

[TheKentuckian]

48. That shit won't work either. What happens when they are caught on camera now? The same thing

as it does without them, the wagons are circles, rationalizations are peppered all over, some crackers go on about "thugs", badge sniffing idiots and undercover bigots go on about "split second decisions", "guns on the street", "dangerous occupation", "a few bad apples", and some lame advice to black folks on how to not pass off cops and/or how we must present our heartfelt assimilation to "win hearts and minds" while the bodies pile in the streets and jails.

What will soften those hearts and relax those trigger fingers are reduced rationales for encounters and some fucking consequences.

[ReRe]

49. Well, I have changed my mind since I posted that reply...

... you are right. As evidenced by this no-indictment in NYC today, all the cameras in the world can't protect the innocent black man or woman from this violent white police state. There it was, before our very eyes, proof that the cops killed that man right there on the street in NYC. Yet, no indictment.
This definitively says to me, once and for all, that we do now live in a police state.

[jtuck004]

9. "Who controls State and Local LE?" < Whomever is providing the money. Usually the state or local

authorities, unless taken over by Gov or Pres in time of, well, you know.

On the other hand, if someone has a big pool of War on People funds, that changes their policing.

[ReRe]

10. State Attorney Generals?

in conjunction with their Governors?

[jtuck004]

16. According to each state's constitution. n/t

[ReRe]

18. Ahhh. OK. Thanks! n/t

[msanthrope]

27. Our Founding Fathers very carefully reserved local police control to the states and municipalities.

This was done purposefully, to avoid the problems associated with the redcoated police forces the colonials had been subject to.

[Baitball Blogger]

5. Could this mean that social media has finally arrived

as a vehicle of change?

[LuvLoogie]

13. Wait a minute...

Is it still 2009?!

[Township75]

26. This guy is a fucking pathetic AG

Another speech designed to appease people until they lose momentum on this issue. He said a lot after trayvon Martin was shot too. What type of AG issues guidelines for racial profiling? Shouldn't here be no racial profiling?

[Cha]

29. That just shows your ignorance and says nothing about AG Holder.

[TheKentuckian]

37. Ignorance is a curable condition, just requires education. Teach away.

Tell us all about the wondrous accomplishments and valiant efforts of our AG.

[geek tragedy]

39. Maybe you should do your own research before engaging

in knee- jerk Holder Hate.

There is a lot you do not know. You should try to learn about it.

[TheKentuckian]

42. Sounds like either you are talking a lot and saying nothing or need to research

your own claim.

It is your argument, support it.

[geek tragedy]

44. Since you evidently have never heard of Internet search engines . . .

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=eric+holder+civil+rights+accomplishments

Of course, you won't check out the results, because that might mean learning something

[geek tragedy]

45. "He has been a persistent and consistent leader in the struggle for civil and human rights.

That legacy is in his bones. It is written on his heart, and his intelligence and committed leadership will be hard to replace.”


“the symbol of fairness, an embodiment of the best in the federal government.”

"there has been no greater ally in the fight for justice, civil rights, equal rights and voting rights than Attorney General Holder.”

Go ahead and google those quotes, if you know how.