In vehemently denying to a Congressional committee today that the Department of Justice’s refusal to pursue the case against voter intimidation by Black Panthers in Philadelphia had anything to do with race, Attorney General Holder insisted “This Department of Justice does not enforce the law in a race-conscious way.”
Why not?
To the best of my knowledge AG Holder has never opposed any race conscious behavior by school boards, universities (whether in admissions or hiring or promoting faculty or staff), private or public employers, state governments, etc. Does he think the Department of Justice is required to act in a colorblind fashion by some provision(s) of the Constitution or statutes? Does he, for example, believe the 14th Amendment’s requirement of equal protection commands the DOJ to act in a colorblind manner? If not, what does? If so, why doesn’t it require similar colorblindness of the states and their agencies?
Discriminating minds want to know.
