And she persisted!
Kristen Clarke just became the first woman of color and the first Black woman to lead the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.
The daughter of Jamaican immigrants and mother of a teenage son, Clarke got her start with the DOJ, working in the Civil Rights Division as a federal prosecutor overseeing police misconduct cases, hate crimes, and human trafficking. During her time, she also focused on voting rights and redistricting, eventually taking those skills to assist at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Her former boss, Sherilynn Ifill, took to Twitter to share her thoughts about the confirmation.
Meet the new Asst Attorney for Civil Rights, @KristenClarkeJD – an amazing, courageous civil rights lawyer. She is the first woman – the first Black woman – to be confirmed to this position. Kristen is the 5th former @NAACP_LDF atty to lead the Civ Rts Division. pic.twitter.com/LYf3rulCjt
— Sherrilyn Ifill (@Sifill_LDF) May 25, 2021
On a day where we are mourning George Floyd on the anniversary of his murder at the hands of police officers, we take comfort in knowing that there is a Black woman in place to ensure “civil liberties for all Americans.”
Congratulations, Assistant Attorney General Kristen!
Photo Courtesy of the Lawyers’ Committee