Civil Rights News: State Laws Blocking Voters; AG Holder on Voting Rights; African Americans Facing Longterm Financial Setbacks

Compiled by Willie Roberson, a Summer 2012 Leadership Conference Education Fund Intern

States’ Voter ID Laws Could Disenfranchise Thousands in 2012
Associated Press
Los Angeles Times

In a review of states with the most stringent voter ID laws, The Associated Press found that 1200 temporary ballots by eligible voters were tossed during the last presidential election, and hundreds more blocked during the primaries earlier this year. Supporters of these laws cite 400 election fraud prosecutions over the decade across the country as a reason why states need to do more to secure elections. However, those who oppose these state-led movements say that one prosecution per state per year indicates that fraud attempts are rare and the risk of disenfranchising eligible voters is too high.

Attorney General Holder Pledges to Protect the Right to Vote
Wire Staff
CNN

At the annual conference of the National Council of La Raza in Las Vegas, Attorney General Eric Holder pledged his commitment to protecting the right to vote for all Americans citizens. Speaking on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice, Holder praised La Raza, the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, for its steadfast work in helping to protect this basic right of American citizenship. Holder acknowledged that the nation’s struggle to overcome injustice and eliminate disparities remains far from over and that the Justice Department will continue to do everything in its power to fight all measures threatening to undermine the effectiveness and integrity of the U.S. elections systems.

For Black Americans, Financial Damage From Subprime Implosion Is Likely to Last
Ylan Q. Mui
Washington Post

Studies indicate that the collapse of the subprime lending market has disproportionately affected the future economic growth and success of black communities. In light of these findings, the Federal Reserve is collecting data on how the recession has affected credit scores by race. Advocacy groups such as the NAACP and National Urban League have stated that the mortgage crisis has ushered in a new era of de facto economic segregation. While many people across the country have been impacted by the housing crisis, there is a widespread belief among economists and community leaders that, due to predatory lending practices that targeted minority loan applicants, African Americans face an even greater challenge rebounding in the future. The Justice Department has began to reach settlements with some of the banks responsible for offering  predatory loans, but civil rights leaders say these settlements are dwarfed by the long lasting damage done to the Black community.