First Black Woman Confirmed as U.S. DOJ Civil Rights Chief... Adds Significance to Floyd 1st Anniversary

by Kwon Jaehee

Published 26 May.2021 08:08(KST)

▲Christine Clark

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] For the first time in history, a Black woman has been appointed as the head of the civil rights division at the U.S. Department of Justice. The appointment gained additional significance as it took place exactly one year after Black youth George Floyd died due to excessive force by a white police officer.

On the 25th (local time), according to the political news outlet The Hill, the U.S. Senate approved the confirmation vote for Christine Clarke, nominee for Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the Department of Justice, with a vote of 51 to 48.

Senator Susan Collins was the only Republican to cast a favorable vote.

The civil rights division, which Clarke will oversee as Assistant Attorney General, is responsible for investigating local judicial agencies and managing voting regulations in each state, among other duties related to civil rights.

Regarding Clarke's confirmation, Republicans opposed it, claiming she is anti-police and a radical, while Democrats dismissed these accusations as slander, resulting in a confrontational stance.

Prior to the confirmation vote, the Judiciary Committee was evenly split with 11 votes for and 11 against.

However, during last month's confirmation hearing, Clarke stated, "I want to find strategies to make law enforcement safer and more effective," and expressed that she does not support reducing police budget funding.

Clarke previously served as the chairperson of the 'Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.'

Meanwhile, Vanita Gupta, nominated as Deputy Attorney General, the third-highest ranking official at the Department of Justice, was also confirmed by the Senate with a narrow margin of 51 to 49. In this vote, Senator Lisa Murkowski was the only Republican to vote in favor.