US racial justice envoy calls out Tunisian president's 'incendiary' rhetoric
In an interview with Al-Monitor, the State Department's special representative for racial equity and justice, Desirée Cormier Smith, discussed the challenges facing marginalized racial and ethnic groups in the Middle East.
WASHINGTON — The State Department’s racial justice envoy expressed concern over Tunisian President Kais Saied’s “inflammatory and incendiary rhetoric” and said the administration was considering "additional measures" to encourage the North African country to meet its obligations under international law.
Desirée Cormier Smith, the department’s first-ever special representative for racial equity and justice, spoke with Al-Monitor following her five-day trip to the Jordanian capital of Amman. The visit marked her first to the region as special representative.
Cormier Smith described her mission as twofold: “Ensuring US policies are supporting the human rights of these communities, and that US policies are combating structural racism, discrimination and xenophobia.”
While in Jordan late last month, Cormier Smith met with marginalized communities, including Middle East refugees, migrant workers from Southeast Asia and Black Jordanians, to discuss how the US government could support them.
