'And each one of us – every American – has a great deal more to do,' Holder says. Holder: America not 'colorblind'

U.S Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday that the country “is not yet colorblind,” during remarks marking the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

“As it stands, our society is not yet colorblind; nor should it be, given the disparities that still afflict and divide us,” Holder said at Howard University in Washington, according to prepared remarks.


Holder said it is an “undeniable truth” that injustices “continue to reverberate.”

Holder added that the “timelessness” of the Civil Rights Act has enabled the Justice Department’s efforts in seeking progress for the LGBT community as well as women and minorities.

“But it also shows that our work is far from over. Significant challenges remain before us. And each one of us — every American — has a great deal more to do,” Holder said.

Holder said that many LGBT individuals are denied credit and housing, women still face workplace inequalities, and racial divides remain in school funding as well as the criminal justice system, before calling on Congress to tackle these issues — including passing updated voting rights legislation.