Source: United States Department of Justice News
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division traveled to Memphis, Tennessee, on April 3 and 4 to continue the Civil Rights Division’s tour to engage with stakeholders in underserved communities and reaffirm the department’s commitment to protecting the civil rights of all Americans.
On Monday, Assistant Attorney General Clarke participated in a fireside chat with the Student Bar Association at the University of Memphis Law School. She discussed the Civil Rights Division’s efforts enforce federal civil and criminal civil rights laws and encouraged law students to consider careers in government service.
In the evening, Assistant Attorney General Clarke participated in a community conversation hosted by the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis. Attendees included faith, community and student leaders, and local residents. She discussed the department’s recent efforts to address modern day redlining in Memphis, implement policing reform, and protect people from housing discrimination. She thanked attendees for their steadfast commitment to civil rights and pushing for change in their community.
On Tuesday, she participated in a fireside chat for several hundred 11th and 12th grade students at the Whitehaven High School in the Memphis-Shelby County School District. She discussed her journey as a civil rights attorney, encouraged the students to pursue careers in public service and addressed questions concerning the civil rights challenges facing young people today.
That afternoon, she visited the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee where she met with U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz, his leadership team and the attorneys and professional staff of the office. She thanked all staff members for their dedicated service and partnership in protecting civil rights.
During her trip, Assistant Attorney General Clarke also had several meetings with local Memphis officials, including State Representative G.A. Hardaway, Mayor Jim Strickland, Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis and Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy. In those discussions, she reinforced the Justice Department’s commitment to working with our local partners on civil rights issues.
To close her trip, Assistant Attorney General Clarke delivered remarks at the National Civil Rights Museum’s program commemorating the 55th Anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The museum is located at the former Lorraine Motel, the location where Dr. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968. The event was attended by several civil rights leaders, including Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, community leaders and elected officials from across the country. Read her full remarks here.
In the upcoming weeks, Assistant Attorney General Clarke will travel to Arkansas, Mississippi and South Carolina to continue meeting with stakeholders in underserved communities.