Transcripts For MSNBCW PoliticsNation 20240704 : comparemela

Good evening, and welcome to politicsnation. And youre looking at live pictures from selma, alabama, where Vice President Kamala Harris and other dignitaries, including myself, are crossing the bridge to commemorate the 59th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday, with just two days till Super Tuesday, election 2024 is very much on our mind. And joining me now is congressman steven horsford, democrat of nevada, and chair of the congressional black caucus. Congressman, mister chairman, its been nearly 60 years since john lewis and Josi At Williams and some 600 others first marched across that bridge, the Edmund Tennis Bridge you and i just marched across with the Vice President. And yet we still find ourselves contending with conservative forces, seeking to curtail Ballot Access for minority voters, or students. And in the case of alabama, dilute the power of the black vote. What are your thoughts, as the cbc chair, as we walked across that historic bridge, 59 years later, and still fighting for Voting Rights. The Supreme Court took section five out of the Voting Rights act. A trump appointed court in many ways. What was going through your mind . Well reverend al, its great to be here with you, in selma. Its great to have the Vice President joining, us along with the foot soldiers and who, 59 years ago, lead this march on Bloody Sunday. Unfortunately, it was a march that led to the beating, to the bleeding, and the near death of those marchers. I pushed one of them in the wheelchair, you are right next to. For people who saw the wheelchair, she was one of the original marchers on the bridge, that was tear gassed that day. And they are still here, marching for justice. Thats right. And as you said, the march 59 years ago was about Voting Rights. Four months after that march, 59 years ago they passed the Voting Rights act. The Civil Rights Act to follow. But now, we are contending with people who are trying to take away, or roll back, freedom,s rights, and opportunities. And thats why in this moment, it is so important for all of us to understand that it is time for us to take up this baton of justice, to run our race in this moment, and to make sure that we do not go back, that we continue to press forward. As we honor the work of activists like the late john lewis here at selma today, and ill never forget just a few years ago, he surprised us about three months, i believe before he died, and pulled up in a car. And he was feeble, and i was one of those that was on that bridge, right where i did the prayer today, he was. And he told us to keep fighting. The Vice President said that in her speech. But senate democrats, today, just reintroduced the Voting Rights legislation in his name, six months after the alabama cbc introduced the house version of the bill, which would restore federal oversight to states, and counties, with a history of voter discrimination. Assuming it passes the democratic majority senate, congressman, what kind of reception do you think you will get in the house . Well, two things reverend al. As you know, the house democrats, led by congress in the last congress, passed not only the john r. Lewis Voting Rights advancement act, but also the freedom to vote act. Not once, but twice. And it is incumbent upon the senate to move this legislation now. And its incumbent upon republicans to work with us, in the house, to get this legislation to the president. This is the first time in 40 years that republicans have not worked to reauthorize the Voting Rights act. And just think about it, this is about providing basic protections for people at the ballot box, so that they are not standing in long lines, without being able to be provided water, or food. Making sure that early vote and registration is accessible, to voters. And so, it is a fundamental right, because it is the right by which all other rights exist. Now we all heard the Vice President express her fears earlier about the perils currently facing our democracy. What are your concerns about the future of Voting Rights, if Republicans Retake the white house, and the senate, congressman, and mister chairman . Well first of all, donald trump said four years ago when he ran for president , to black america, what do you have to lose . And then he appointed the most conservative Supreme Court justices, who answered that question, by making decisions to take away fundamental freedoms, rights, and opportunities. First of all, the freedom for women to make their own decisions about their health care, the freedom for students and families to get relief from student debt. The ability for, the fullest fund, and programs like it to provide funding. Two programs. And now, these are the same people who have filed these lawsuits, who are trying to take Economic Opportunity away, by eliminating, or diversity, equity, and inclusion. Or programs that help uplift small businesses. And in this moment, we are sending a very clear message. We are not going back, we will not be silent, thats why weve called on major corporations to not only affirm their commitments to diversity, but really to uphold the commitments that they made around racial equity, and closing the racial wealth divide in this nation. Because i think a lot of people are they miss the fact that even some of these trials, the indictments, is what the former president has undermined peoples right to vote, to ask for votes in georgia, is to really undermine the big turnout of black voters there. But let me bring you another subject that i must raise while we are here talking at selma, the president , President Joe Biden and former president trump, both visited the texas mexico border last week, offering contrasting views of a Border Security fight that has come to dominate congress, and its priorities. Biden pushed a bipartisan Immigration Reform bill, trump condemned migrants, and praised the states governor, as he feuds with the administration over the states strict border policies. Where do you see this issue ahead this year, with so many republicans taking their cues from donald trump . Well just think about this. The senate, with a 70 vote margin, approved a bipartisan bill, to address Border Security. And because of donald trump saying, do not pass it, speaker johnson in the house said not only will we not pass, he wont bring it up for a vote. So rather than solving a problem, and addressing an issue, they are playing politics. They are putting politics over our nations security. The strengthening and providing the tools to our customs and Border Patrol agents, who desperately need resources, in addition to not approving the bipartisan bill, they wont approve funding. So, they are really hypocritical when it comes to this, and i really believe they want the problem to exist, because they want to use it for elections, and not actually to solve a problem for the american people. Thats wrong, and that is why donald trump needs to get out of the way, and let responsible leaders in congress do our job, and get a bill to the president that he can sign. All right, congressman mister chairman, steve the chair of the congressional black caucus. Thank you for being with us, live from selma, after Marching Cross the bridge. You are watching a special addition of politicsnation, from selma alabama, commemorating 59 years since Bloody Sunday. We will be right back, with much more of todays events, and guests. Todays events, and guests. Right now you can get a free footlong at subway. Just buy any footl in the app and get one free. Just scan the qr code and Enter Promo Code flbogo. It only works from The Other Side of the screen, buddy. You still got a land line in your house. Order now in the subway app. Everybody wants super straight, super white teeth. They want that Hollywood White smile. New sensodyne clinical white provides 2 shades whiter teeth and 24 7 sensitivity protection. I think its a great product. Its going to help a lot of patients. With nurtec odt, i can treat a migraine when it strikes and prevent migraine attacks, all in one. Dont take if allergic to nurtec. Allergic reactions can occur, even days after using. 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Welcome back. Live from selma alabama, to commemorate the 59th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday. Joining me now, with more on what the Biden Justice department is doing to protect and enforce our Voting Rights, is christian assistant u. S. Attorney general for civil rights. Thank you miss clark for being with, us great to have you on the show this weekend. We just crossed the edmund bridge along with hundreds of others, including Attorney General Merrick Garland himself was here. And of course Vice President harris. What did you take away from the crossing, and from her words . You have been working on hate crimes and civil rights cases, probably more diligently than any i can remember that had your position. What did you, what were you thinking marching across that bridge, and listening to the Vice President s words . This It Ministration is deeply committed to ensuring that every eligible american can have a voice in our democracy. And today is a reminder about the work that must be done, the work that happened in the past, the sacrifices made by those foot soldiers who crossed the bridge. But the reality is that we still face voter suppression, and ongoing voting discrimination today. And so, it was a pleasure to be here with Attorney General garland to understand our commitment to making sure that we use our federal Voting Rights laws to ensure that people are able to participate, and have voice in our democracy. Now, a new Brennan Center report finds the Voter Turnout Gap between white and black americans has grown, especially in counties with histories of racial discrimination, that were subject to federal oversight before the Voting Rights act was gutted by the Supreme Court in 2013. Is there anything as far as enforcement that the Justice Department can do to close these gaps, before november . The disparities revealed in this study are deeply troubling. This is the backsliding that we are seeing in the wake of the Supreme Court Shelby County decision. It is a reminder about the need for congress to restore the Voting Rights act, in the wake of that Shelby County decision. As more black people and people of color participate, sadly we are seeing jurisdictions put in place restrictive laws, that make it harder to register to vote, harder to vote. We are seeing discriminatory redistricting maps, and it is why we are Filing Lawsuits across the country, we are stepping in and filing in cases brought by private parties, to make sure we are doing everything that we can to push back against the discrimination, and to ensure that we have a vibrant democracy, where everyone can participate. Now, the Justice Department just put out a report finding pervasive gang violence, sexual assault, and restrictive Housing Practices at three mississippi prison, in violation of inmates Constitutional Rights. This report follows a 2022 doj investigation, of another state prison that found conditions to be unconstitutional. Whats at the core of the problem in mississippi . Yeah, you know, people do not surrender their civil and Constitutional Rights at the jailhouse door. And sadly, we see unconstitutional and inhumane conditions, into many of our jails and prisons. Its why we issued that Findings Report last week, with respect to Mississippi State prisons, and prior to that. We are using federal law to address this crisis across our country, particularly in the deep south, in places like mississippi, louisiana, south carolina, georgia, alabama, where officials are maintaining conditions that violate and run afoul of the constitution. Now ive been in memphis this tuesday with attorney ben to speak as the head of National Action network, at the funeral of marie moan mcgee, who died in sheriffs custody in january,. An autopsy later revealing that he had suffered from severe neglect, and insect infestations, after being held in Shelby County jail. The county Sheriffs Office was initiated, has initiated an internal investigation. But attorney is calling for a federal probe into Shelby County jail. But what are your thoughts about issues like this coming up, like we are dealing with in Shelby County . These issues are one of our highest priorities at the Justice Department, ensuring Law Enforcement accountability, standing up to the conditions that we see inside our jails and prisons. Investigating police departments, when we see systemic abuses of the law. This work is our highest priority, it is, why for example, we are fighting for justice for tyre nichols, and breonna taylor, and why we have fought for justice for george floyd. Its why we are investigating police departments. And i must say on george floyd, you all came in despite the state case, which was one. You still came in with federal. Thats right, thats right. Because the Justice Department is sending a loud message that we must have constitutional policing in our country, we must have Law Enforcement accountability. And when people violate the oath, and violate peoples civil and Constitutional Rights, we will step in to hold them accountable. Now finally, weve had the epa administration, instructors i should say, on the show several times, talking about environmental risks, disproportionately affecting black communities. And i understand the Justice De