President Obama is planning to be in Austin on April 10 to deliver the keynote address at a . The event at the commemorates 50 years since President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act.
鈥淚 think we see the Obama Administration has taken active part in the national dialogue about the progress we鈥檝e made over the past 50 years since the passage of the Civil Rights Act," says , a civil rights expert and professor at the University of Texas School of Law. "They鈥檝e been working on policies to further that process, whether it鈥檚 healthcare or criminal justice reform."
Natarajan said it鈥檚 not surprising that President Obama wants to mark the anniversary as a way to reflect on progress made and what remains to be accomplished.
"He's been talking about ladders of opportunity and shared prosperity and these are goals that the administration clearly prioritizes and thinks about historically as well," Natarajan said.
Former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush also plan to speak at the summit April 8-10.
First Lady Michelle Obama will accompany the president when he delivers his keynote address at the summit's conclusion.
