May 15, 2012
Hon. Eric G. Holder
Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
Dear Attorney General Holder:
In February 2009 you provided your personal assessment of race relations in this country when you stated, "We are a nation of cowards" because "we, average Americans, simply do not talk enough with each other about race."
Those were provocative words that sparked a debate about Americans' unwillingness to talk about race. Mr. Holder I call on you again to engage the nation once more in an ongoing and honest conversation about the disproportionately high number of unarmed minorities in this country dying at the hands of white police officers.
Recently under your leadership a number of investigations have been initiated around the country into police departments in violation of individual civil rights. Your departments comittment and perserverance to get to the bottom for the truth in New Orleans during Katrina recently resulted in the conviction of several police officers.
Police shootings of unarmed minorities in this country continue to occur at an alarming rate in both urban and rural parts of the country. I'm requesting and urging the Justice Department to identify and expand their investigations into civil rights violations by local and state law enforcement agencies under “Color of Law” doctrine which prohibits these agencies from depriving individual rights, privileges, and immunities protected by the U.S. Constitution.
I would also request that the Justice Department determine to what extent the issue of race contributes to these shootings in the country.
I'm also making a personal request to you to address the nation in a news conference and express your concern about the shootings of unarmed minorities in the country. There needs to be a rekindling of debate over the adequacy of police training and issues of race as relates to confrontations between police officers and people of color
Due to the gravity and controversial nature of this matter, I respectfully urge you to undertake this debate with all deliberate speed.
Respectfully,
Dietrick Large
www.truthatlarge.blogspot.com
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