Eric Holder: ‘I Am the Attorney General . . . But I’m Also a Black Man’

When U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder arrived in Ferguson, Missouri, to investigate the controversial shooting incident between a city policeman and a black teen, he said he was both the highest law officer of the nation “and a black man.” He further claimed he was himself a victim of racial harassment by law enforcement.

In remarks made at a meeting of members of the Ferguson community, Holder stirred some racial strife of his own claiming that, even as he is Attorney General, he was once also a victim. “I can remember being stopped on the New Jersey turnpike on two occasions and accused of speeding. Pulled over . . . ‘Let me search your car’ . . . Go through the trunk of my car, look under the seats and all this kind of stuff. I remember how humiliating that was and how angry I was and the impact it had on me,” he said.

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Holder also met up with Missouri Highway Patrol Caption Ron Johnson, the officer placed in charge of security for the community by Missouri Governor Ron Johnson and a man known for trying to bring a healing touch to the community.

“My man! You are the man!” Holder said as he shook hands during the campaign-style stop in the Ferguson community.

At one point, the Attorney General also called Captain Johnson “my brother” when he realized his office did not acknowledge the Captain’s 26th wedding anniversary.

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