White House domestic policy adviser Susan Rice speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington on Tuesday. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI |
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Jan. 26 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden's domestic policy adviser, Susan Rice, said Tuesday that he has ordered an intelligence assessment into White nationalism and that the administration will "craft and implement policies" to address racial equality in America.
In a media briefing, Rice cited the Jan. 6 siege on the U.S. Capitol building, saying a "comprehensive assessment of the nature of this threat and challenge" to determine the "origins and roots" of violent White nationalism will help the administration determine the proper policy to address it.
"We have seen and it's been plain for all Americans on their television sets just how serious a problem we face from nationalists and white supremacists who have demonstrated a willingness to resort to violence in some instances," she said.
Rice, who served as U.N. ambassador and national security adviser for former President Barack Obama, also said the National Security Council will place a focus on domestic violent extremism.
The comments came just before Biden signed executive orders rescinding former President Donald Trump's ban on sensitivity and diversity training at the federal level, and the abolition of the 1776 Commission, as well as creating a policing commission and restoring an Obama-era policy that bars the transfer of military equipment to local police departments.
"For too many American families, systemic racism and inequality in our economy, laws and institutions, still put the American Dream far out of reach," she said.
Rice also outlined additional orders, including one directing the Department of Justice not to renew any contracts with private prisons.
"Private prisons profiteer off federal prisoners and are proven to be, or found to be by the Department of Justice inspector general, less safe for correctional officers and prisoners," she said.
