Kennedy Calls President Insensitive to Minorities

Criticizing what he called the Reagan administration's apathy toward civil rights issues. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy '54 (D. Mass.) last night condemned the president and "New Right" politicians for a "silence which speaks loudly of reaction and retreat."

The liberal senator told an audience of more than 200 at the Kennedy School of Government that "we have a new administration which too often seems content with old injustices," and warned that "the advances of a decade could be wiped out in the few short weeks it would take to impose new schemes of discrimination."

Kennedy's 25-minute speech highlighted a civil rights forum sponsored by the Legal Defense and Education Fund (LDF), a private organization founded in 1939 to provide legal assistance to minorities and the poor.

"Racial injustice and inequality still stain our national life, and their elimination must remain high on our national priorities," Kennedy said.

"Millions of victims of injustice' now worry that they are nowhere on the administration's agenda--they have reason to be apprehensive," he added.

Kennedy warned that Reagan's policies threaten the future of the LDF, adding that, "all Americans who believe in human dignity face a dual challenge--we must press on with our unfinished agenda, through litigation and legislation, to achieve the goals we have set."

"In addition, we will now have to devote resources, time and energy to preserve the gains we have made," the Democratic leader said.

Warning on Courts

One of the gravest threats to civil rights is "the renewed attempt to restrict the power and jurisdiction of the federal courts," Kennedy said.

He added that if civil rights were left in the hands of local governments, "the Bill of Rights would become a political football in an endless partisan game."

Kennedy emphasized the need for liberal politicians and members of the LFD to maintain their commitment to equal voting rights, fair housing laws, and affirmative action, in an effort to counteract a growing conservative climate in the country.

"For the moment, there are not as many of us in the Senate as there used to be, but we will make up in conviction for what we have lost in numbers," Kennedy said.

Kennedy praised the LDF for its defense of equal rights, saying. "The history of the Legal Defense Fund is the modern history of civil rights in America. The fund's brilliant success has inspired efforts by many others seeking equal justice."

James Vorenberg '48, associate dean of the Law School and another forum speaker, praised Kennedy's efforts on civil rights issues.

"No public official has had a more central role in shaping civil rights in this country," Vorenberg said.

Vorenberg, who will take over as dean of the Law School this summer, also urged LDF members in the audience to "double their support" for the fund.

"No one needs to be told that these are bad days for civil rights," Vorenberg added.