Skip to main content

Bob Dole, Eric Holder, Laura Murphy honored at civil rights dinner

Former Kansas senator Bob Dole was honored at the Hubert H. Humphrey Civil and Human Rights Award (civilrights.org) dinner Wednesday night.

Senator Bob Dole, awarded for his role in civil and human rights.  Photo CD Brown.
Dole is also known for championing the rights of the disadvantaged and the disabled.  He spent thirty-five years in Congress beginning in 1960 and was chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1971 to 1972. Dole, 92, holds the record as the nation's longest serving Republican leader.  He is also known for his role and accomplishments in health care, foreign affairs and deficit reduction.

Also honored was former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.

Holder was the 82nd, and first African American attorney general serving under the first African American U.S. president Barack Obama, since 2009.  Holder came under fire for his stance on Benghazi, the Ferguson investigation and as of late, the so-called war on police.

Eric Holder and Laura Murphy (in red) pose for pictures after the
Hubert H. Humphrey Civil and Human Rights awards dinner.  Photo/CD Brown.

In his acceptance speech Holder pointed out what he sees as his successes, saying to the audience that more had been done during his tenure as attorney general than at any other time in history.  He is known for taking on the issues. Among them, the voting rights act, stop and frisk policies, and harsh and unequal drug sentencing practices.

"If that isn't justice, then you show me what is", he said.

Still oponents, like Republican senator Ted Cruz, refer to Holder as "the most partisan attorney general in our history, repeatedly defying and refusing to enforce the law."

Holder resigned earlier this year and is succeeded by Attorney General Loretta Lynch who recently launched a police probe into the death of unarmed Baltimore resident Freddie Gray.

Dole and Holder shared the spotlight with iconic civil and human rights advocate Laura Murphy. Murphy is president of Laura Murphy & Associates, a D.C. political and management consulting firm and previously served as director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office.

Her family started Baltimore's Afro newspaper.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Story Behind Presidents' Day

Did you know Presidents' Day isn’t just about a day off?  Originally established to honor George Washington’s birthday, it has since grown to celebrate all U.S. presidents who’ve shaped the country’s path. It’s a day to reflect on leadership, service, and the values that drive national progress. Presidents' Day dates back to 1879, when it was first recognized as a federal holiday for Washington. Later, Abraham Lincoln’s February birthday brought attention. By 1971, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act combined the days, creating the long weekend many know today—but its purpose goes far deeper. From decisions that forged independence to policies steering modern challenges, U.S. presidents have helped shape history. It's a moment to appreciate lessons in courage, responsibility, and the impact of strong leadership on society today. How do you celebrate Presidents' Day?  Is it by learning about the leaders who influenced American history? Do you read their biographies, visit ...

Government job loss under the Trump administration, since 2016. Are you at risk in 2025?

Under President Trump's first term in office, America experienced job declines. Data from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) suggests that the total number of federal employees decreased by approximately 1.3% from 2016 to 2020, resulting in a loss of approximately 18,000 government positions. This decline was achieved largely through attrition, as the administration emphasized not filling vacancies rather than implementing widespread layoffs.   Also: What about social security?  Trump has sad that he does not plan to change social security, however, one case shows how a senior experienced   difficulty getting their due benefits .  Job Losses in Government Agencies since 2016. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) The EPA faced significant cuts under the Trump administration, with staffing levels dropping from approximately 15,000 employees in 2016 to about 14,000 by 2020 citing budget cuts and decreasing regulatory enforcement practices.  Department of Ed...