By La Shawn K. Ford
By La Shawn K. Ford
Dear Neighbors,
I am deeply concerned by the direction of our national conversation on civil rights, particularly following recent comments by President Donald Trump suggesting that civil rights protections amount to “reverse discrimination” against white Americans.
That claim is wrong, and it is dangerous.
The civil rights movement did not emerge from theory or political convenience. It was a response to centuries of systemic discrimination, violence, and exclusion faced by Black Americans and other marginalized communities. Landmark civil rights laws were enacted to dismantle those barriers and to ensure that the promise of equal opportunity applied to everyone. These laws expanded freedom. They did not restrict it.
Portraying civil rights protections as discriminatory fundamentally distorts their purpose. Civil rights laws do not take away anyone’s rights. They exist to guarantee that access to opportunity is not determined by race, background, or circumstance. Suggesting otherwise dismisses the real and persistent inequities that continue to shape lives across this country.
America’s strength has always come from its commitment to fairness and inclusion. Generations of people have come here seeking dignity, safety, and the chance to participate fully in our democracy. The rights to vote, to protest, and to be heard are not privileges granted to a few. They are core American principles that require constant defense.
When leaders undermine the legitimacy of civil rights protections, they weaken the foundation of our democracy. Divisive rhetoric does not move us closer to justice or understanding. It erodes trust, fuels resentment, and distracts from the unfinished work of ensuring that every person has a fair chance to succeed.
We should reject narratives that pit Americans against one another based on race. Equality is not a zero-sum proposition. Protecting civil rights strengthens the nation as a whole.
This moment calls for clarity and resolve. We must honor those who fought to expand freedom in this country and recommit ourselves to building a society where equality is not only a principle, but a lived reality.
Sincerely,
La Shawn K. Ford
