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Holder departure will bring civil rights questions

By WTOP Staff

JESSE J. HOLLAND
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Moments after making fresh demands that Attorney General Eric Holder open federal investigations into police shootings of unarmed black men, a cluster of civil rights activists learned, courtesy of whispers and a shared e-tablet, that the nation’s first black attorney general was stepping down.

Civil rights leaders, liberal activists and black lawmakers are now left wondering what effect Holder’s impending departure will have on the high-profile efforts begun on his watch. “There’s a lot for us to calculate,” said the Rev. Al Sharpton, who was meeting with black leaders in Washington.

Holder has been applauded by civil rights and equal rights activists as the most effective attorney general ever for their causes.

“There has been no greater ally in the fight for justice, civil rights, equal rights, and voting rights than Attorney General Holder,” declared Myrlie Evers-Williams, widow of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers and a former NAACP national chairwoman.

But the first black attorney general could be leaving several things undone as he transitions out:

— Possible federal charges in the deaths of black men including Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida.

— The November monitoring of congressional and statewide elections that will take place after the Supreme Court threw out a major protection in the Voting Rights Act.

— And projects he personally promoted such as the reduction of racial profiling in federal investigations, changes in how federal prosecutors negotiate sentencing, changes in the death penalty system and efforts to reduce tensions between local police departments and minority communities.

“At this critical time for America, we can’t afford to lose momentum on civil rights,” said Leslie Proll, director of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund’s Washington Office

For his part, Holder told the Congressional Black Caucus during its legislative conference on Friday that he plans to keep on pushing voting rights and civil rights protections while still in office. He has agreed to stay on until the Senate confirms his replacement, and President Barack Obama has yet to name that person.

“In the meantime, there remains a great deal to be done,” said Holder, who got a standing ovation from the crowd as he entered the room. “I have no intention of letting up or slowing down.”

Despite Holder having informed the White House around Labor Day of his impending departure, black lawmakers and civil rights activists in Washington were shocked to find out about his resignation Thursday.

At the National Press Club — only a few blocks from the Justice Department — Sharpton, National Urban League president Marc Morial and representatives of other groups had joined with Brown’s parents to call for federal charges to brought against the white police officer that fatally shot him. Morial, Sharpton and others could be seen whispering to each other and reading the breaking news from an electronic tablet before Sharpton told the crowd.

On the other side of town, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi broke the news to the Congressional Black Caucus during one of its legislative conference sessions, just moments after Holder’s work had been praised. Gasps could be heard in the crowd. “What?” one person said into a microphone.

Sharpton and others hope that Obama consults with the civil rights community before picking Holder’s replacement, and Sharpton is pushing Holder to at least make an announcement on Ferguson before he leaves office. Advocates for Brown’s family want the Justice Department to take over the criminal investigation of Brown’s shooting death at the hands of Ferguson officer Darren Wilson and consider federal charges.

Meanwhile, the Justice Department has yet to say whether it will file federal civil rights charges in the Trayvon Martin case against George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who said he killed Martin in self-defense in February 2012 and was acquitted in a state trial.

In addition, the department will be monitoring its first elections in decades that will not have the protections of the most powerful provision of the Voting Rights Act — that all or parts of 15 states with a history of discrimination in voting, mainly in the South, get Washington’s approval before changing the way they hold elections. The Supreme Court threw out that part of the act last year.

“We cannot let those who try to suppress our voices win,” said Rep. Marcia Fudge, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus on Friday.

Not everyone in the rights community gives Holder glowing reviews on other matters.

“We’ve had profound disagreements with the attorney general on national security issues,” said ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero, pointing to Justice-authorized mass surveillance, drone use and leak prosecutions.

And not everyone in the minority community is upset at Holder’s impending departure.

“Holder managed to set back race relations, showed disrespect for the rule of law and undermined basic constitutional principles,” said Horace Cooper, co-chair of the black conservatives leadership group Project 21. “Hopefully, his replacement will understand the difference between being the chief legal advisor for the implementation of a partisan agenda and being the chief law enforcement officer of the United States.”

But others are convinced — and pleased — that the people Holder brought into the Justice Department will continue Holder’s efforts.

“We are confident that the DOJ will be thorough and will continue to do its job,” said John Gaskin III, member of the NAACP national board of directors and spokesman for the St. Louis County NAACP, which has been monitoring events in Ferguson. “We are confident that he’s brought the right people to the Justice Department, (people) that are competent to do the job.”

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Associated Press reporters Jim Salter in St. Louis and Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this story.

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Follow Jesse J. Holland on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/jessejholland

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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