Close Menu
The Westside GazetteThe Westside Gazette
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • About Us
    • Contact
    • Media Kit
    • Political Rate Sheet
    • Links
      • NNPA Links
      • Archives
    • SUBMIT YOUR VIDEO
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    The Westside GazetteThe Westside Gazette
    Advertise With Us
    • Home
    • News
      • National
      • Local
      • International
      • Business
      • Releases
    • Entertainment
      • Photo Gallery
      • Arts
    • Politics
    • OP-ED
      • Opinions
      • Editorials
      • Black History
    • Lifestyle
      • Health
      • HIV/AIDS Supplements
      • Advice
      • Religion
      • Obituaries
    • Sports
      • Local
      • National Sports
    • Podcast and Livestreams
      • Just A Lil Bit
      • Two Minute Warning Series
    The Westside GazetteThe Westside Gazette
    You are at:Home » Black Caucus Analyzes Civil Rights in the Trump Era at Forum
    National News

    Black Caucus Analyzes Civil Rights in the Trump Era at Forum

    April 27, 20174 Mins Read0 Views
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest Telegram LinkedIn Tumblr Email Reddit
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest WhatsApp Email
    Advertisement

    BLACK-CAUCUS-ANALYZESBlack Caucus Analyzes Civil Rights in the Trump Era at Forum

    By Lauren Victoria Burke (NNPA Newswire Contributor)

    As lawmakers, community stakeholders and activists protest against current White House policies, members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) hosted a summit on the future of civil rights under the Trump Administration.

    There was no shortage of blunt talk during the panel discussion, which lasted nearly two hours. White House policies on police reform, education, voting and immigration were discussed in detail.

    “In my humble opinion the greatest threat to civil rights is the current administration,” said Roy Austin, the former director of the Office of Urban Affairs, Justice and Opportunity under the Obama Administration. “In record time, the current administration has not only shown a willingness to not defend civil rights, but also an intent to violate civil rights, and at a minimum, an attempt to make it easier for others to violate civil rights.”

    Austin continued: “No marginalized group… is safe from what the current administration has already done or appears to be planning to do. Everything we have fought for, and some have died for, is at risk.”

    Others on the panel echoed the same views on a variety of issues from the “Muslim travel ban” to police reform.

    President Donald Trump’s Attorney General Jeff Sessions, recently, ordered a review of all the police reform agreements in what will likely be the beginning of decreased federal oversight by the Department of Justice on police departments.

    The two-page memo was an order to review the oversight decisions by the Department of Justice during the Obama Ad-ministration. A Washington Post study in 2016 revealed that in 2015 Blacks were shot and killed by police at 2.5 times the rate of Whites.

    “The backstop that has been the civil rights enforcement of the federal government is no more,” said Catherine Lhamon, the chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

    On March 22, seven members of the CBC met with President Trump and handed him the report titled, “We Have A Lot To Lose: Solutions to Advance Black Families in the 21st Century.” They challenged him on issues of policing, economics, jobs and education and how federal policies impact Black communities.

    A week before the March 22 meeting, another Black Caucus member, Baltimore Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) met with President Trump to talk about prescription drug prices and also challenged him on the way he has repeatedly linked Black communities with mayhem and violence.

    Also joining the Capitol Hill forum were Gavin Grimm, plaintiff in the transgender rights case, Grimm v. Gloucester County School Board; Ron Davis, the former Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services at the Department of Justice; Chief Hassan Aden, member of the steering committee for Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime and Incarceration and former Chief of Police of the Greenville Police Department; Chiraag Bains, a senior fellow at Harvard Law School Criminal Justice Policy Program; and Joe Rich, the co-director of the Fair Housing and Community Development Project for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

    The Capitol Hill forum was hosted by Reps. John Conyers (D-Mich.), Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and CBC Chairman Cedric Richmond (D-La.). Reps. Joyce Beatty (D-OH) Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) and Al Lawson (D-Fla.) also attended. Members of the CBC have become some of the most persistent critics of President Trump since his inauguration in January.

    Lauren Victoria Burke is a political analyst who speaks on politics and African American leadership. She is also a frequent contributor to the NNPA Newswire and BlackPressUSA.com. Connect with Lauren by email at LBurke007@gmail.com and on Twitter at @LVBurke.

     

    Black Caucus Analyzes Westside Gazette
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp Telegram Email
    Carma Henry

    Carma Lynn Henry Westside Gazette Newspaper 545 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 Office: (954) 525-1489 Fax: (954) 525-1861

    Related Posts

    Mayor Bottoms Slams GOP for Slashing Medicaid & SNAP While Adding TRILLIONS to the Deficit

    July 10, 2025

    The Number of National Black Conventions That Are ‘NOT’ Inviting President Trump Continues to Grow

    July 9, 2025

    Disney Dreamers Academy Now Accepting Applications for Popular Mentorship Program at Walt Disney World

    July 8, 2025
    Advertisement

    View Our E-Editon

    Advertisement

    –>

    advertisement

    advertisement

    Advertisement

    –>

    The Westside Gazette
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
    © 2025 The Westside Gazette - Site Designed by No Regret Media.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Go to mobile version