On June 11, 1963, an African American woman was escorted by the Attorney General of the United States to register at the all-white University of Alabama. The U.S. Attorney General was Nicholas Katzenbach. The young woman was Vivian Malone, sister-in-law of the current U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder.
Library of Congress - public domain
One cannot escape the bitter irony. Forty-six years ago, the Attorney General of the United States confronted the forces of segregation led by George Wallace in order to establish equal educational opportunities for all Americans of all races.
Today, the Attorney General of the United States, a beneficiary of the expansion of educational equality for African Americans, has argued for the denial of equal rights for gay Americans in tones reminiscent of Wallace.
Library of Congress - public domain
In 1963, Wallace, famous for his "Segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!" inaugural address, announced from the schoolhouse door -
Further, as the Governor of the State of Alabama, I hold the supreme executive power of this State, and it is my duty to see that the laws are faithfully executed. The illegal and unwarranted actions of the Central Government on this day, contrary to the laws, customs and traditions of this State is calculated to disturb the peace.
http://www.archives.state.al.us/...
Official Dept. of Justice Portrait - public domain
In a similar vein, Holder’s Department of Justice said this –
[T]he public policy doctrine, which has long recognized the sovereign authority of the States to decline to give effect to the laws of a sister State at variance with their own legitimate public policy. Section 2 of DOMA merely confirms the specific applicability of that longstanding principle in the context of laws regarding same-sex marriage.
http://www.americablog.com/...
And yet, it is even worse.
Wallace made his political career as a racist demagogue. It was surprising to few that he would announce his opposition to integration before a legion of television cameras. Still, late in his life, Wallace gave Vivian Malone Jones an award for outstanding citizenship named after his late wife and apologized for his actions that day.
Mrs. Jones also said that during a private meeting prior to the awards ceremony, the former governor apologized for the confrontation. ... "He said he felt that it was wrong, that it shouldn't have happened. He said he felt the state of Alabama is better now than it was then as a result of what has happened through the integration and the desegregation of the schools here," said the 54-year-old Mrs. Jones.
http://findarticles.com/...
The person who appointed Eric Holder, Barack Obama, campaigned on the promise that he would be a "fierce advocate" for the GLBTIQ community. It is one thing for a professed enemy to spit in your face. It is another thing, altogether, when a supposed friend does so.
"I think that it is no secret that I am a fierce advocate for equality for gay and lesbian Americans," he said. "It is something that I have been consistent on, and I intend to continue to be consistent on during my presidency."
http://edition.cnn.com/...
It is a sad day, indeed.