Letter to No. 3 in the Justice Department

Dear Mr. Perrelli:

I must respectfully and most angrily disagree with your decision to dismiss the civil complaint against members of the New Black Panthers. As you well know, voting is among the most basic and essential civil rights belonging rightfully to every American.

The intimidation of voters by the New Black Panther Party outside a polling center in Philadelphia was an outright and blatant violation of both the Constitution and Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act. Those who stood outside the polling place, wearing berets, combat boots, and military-style clothing while brandishing nightsticks and issuing racial insults and threats, should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Every American citizen should know that their government will do everything in it's power to ensure that every American has the right and opportunity to vote as he or she pleases without interference and intimidation from hostile, racist groups like the New Black Panthers.

Your decision, sir, implies that such behavior will not be prosecuted lawfully in the future and only encourages more of the same. I have to say that, had it been a white supremacist group that was acting in such a manner, the case would almost certainly have been handled much differently. The outcome of this case is more regrettable. Thank you for your consideration.

Stephen Walker