Civil Rights Leaders Support Eric Holder for Attorney General

Please read the following media advisory about HRC's enthusiastic support for the potential Attorney General:

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, will join with other civil rights leaders at a press conference tomorrow in support of Attorney General nominee Eric Holder. The Human Rights Campaign announced its support of Holder in a December 18, 2008 letter along with the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. The letter is available from the Senate Judiciary Committee here: http://judiciary.senate.gov/resources/documents/upload/121808-LeadershipCouncilOnCivilRights.pdf



“In Eric Holder, President-elect Obama has chosen an attorney general who has demonstrated his dedication to civil rights, protecting communities from hate violence, and the fair and equal application of our laws,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Eric Holder has recognized the deleterious effect that hate and bias crimes have not just on victims, but on entire communities. President-elect Obama’s appointment continues to prove his commitment to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.”



WHAT: Press Conference in Support of Attorney General nominee Eric Holder



WHEN: Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. ET



WHERE: 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building



WHO: Sens. Whitehouse and Cardin along with leaders representing the civil rights community



BACKGROUND: After graduating from Columbia Law School, Mr. Holder joined the Department of Justice’s Attorney General's Honors Program. In 1988 he was nominated for and confirmed as Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. In 1993 President Clinton nominated Mr. Holder for United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, and he was confirmed later that year. In this role he worked vigorously to reduce crime and increase neighborhood safety. Notably, he emphasized hate crimes enforcement to ensure that bias-motivated crimes would receive adequate resources, attention, and punishment. Hate crimes continued to be a priority for Mr. Holder after his 1997 appointment by President Clinton to Deputy Attorney General. His dedication to the issue of addressing hate-based violence is exemplified in his 1999 testimony before the House Judiciary Committee. The text of his remarks is available at: http://www.hrc.org/11605.htm