FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER OPENS CIVIL RIGHTS CELEBRATION IN AUSTIN
A convocation of former presidents are at the LBJ Library this week to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. One of them says there is still work to be done.
Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Jimmy Carter were in Austin to remember the fifty years since President Lyndon Johnson signed one of the most significant pieces of legislation in the nation’s history, the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
President Carter spoke Tuesday night, lamenting the continuing inequalities between black and white Americans during the celebration.
Carter told the conference that ‘too many people are at ease’ with black unemployment rates that exceed the national average and schools in some places that he described as basically still segregated.
Carter was the first of the former presidents to speak at the celebration. This is a three day conference marking the anniversary of the legislation.
The 39th president said that ‘we’re pretty much dormant now’ saying we accept self congratulations about the wonderful 50th anniversary, but we feel like Lyndon Johnson did it and we don’t have to do anything more.’
Carter touched on wage gaps between women and men and reiterated his support for gay marriage.
President Obama is scheduled to give the keynote address Thursday. President Clinton is expected to speak today (Wednesday) and George W. Bush will close out the event Thursday.