Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke delivered remarks at the National Urban League’s Annual Conference on July 26, 2024. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of perseverance in the fight for equal justice for Black Americans and highlighted the intertwined history of American democracy with both defeats and victories.
Clarke acknowledged the significant milestones in civil rights history, including the abolition of slavery through the 13th Amendment in 1865 and the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. She referenced Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s description of the Act as the “Second Emancipation” and noted its role in outlawing discrimination and codifying equality in voter registration.
Despite these advancements, Clarke pointed out that states continued to deny Black Americans access to voting, leading to events such as Bloody Sunday in 1965. This violence prompted Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act on August 6, 1965. However, she lamented that a Supreme Court decision in 2013 weakened this Act, allowing jurisdictions to revert to discriminatory practices.
Clarke expressed concern over recent trends in voter suppression laws, citing data from the Brennan Center indicating an increase in such laws across various states from 2021 to 2024. She reiterated her support for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and called on Congress to restore protections under the Voting Rights Act.
Highlighting ongoing efforts by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Clarke mentioned litigation against discriminatory redistricting plans and state legislation restricting voter registration. She also noted cases defending provisions of the Voting Rights Act against voter intimidation and coercion.
Clarke addressed broader issues of hate crimes, recounting historical incidents like those involving Emmett Till and James Byrd. She detailed recent prosecutions for racially motivated violence and other hate crimes since January 2021.
In education, Clarke discussed efforts to combat racial harassment in schools and end practices like corporal punishment and school-to-prison pipelines. She underscored ongoing desegregation cases more than seven decades after Brown v. Board of Education.
Economic justice was another focal point, with Clarke mentioning initiatives against employment discrimination and modern-day redlining. Under Attorney General Garland's leadership, she highlighted a nationwide initiative launched in 2021 aimed at combating redlining practices by banks and lending institutions.
Clarke also spoke about protecting disability rights through accessible web content requirements issued earlier this year and fighting faith-based discrimination by supporting religious exercise rights.
Regarding law enforcement accountability, Clarke cited prosecutions related to high-profile cases like George Floyd's murder and investigations into police departments for unconstitutional conduct. She described efforts to protect incarcerated individuals' rights by investigating prison conditions violating constitutional amendments.
Environmental justice was another area of focus, with Clarke discussing actions taken to address issues like lead-laced water and illegal dumping affecting predominantly Black communities.
In closing, Clarke urged continued vigilance against voting discrimination and suppression while emphasizing that progress is not linear but requires persistent effort. "Together," she said, "we will write a just end to the story of voting rights."
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