Ex-DOJ lawyer: 'I've never seen an administration so intent on pursuing an anti-civil rights agenda'

After a career pushing for civil rights in Washington, the former acting head of the Justice Department's civil rights division said she's stunned by the Trump administration's "anti-civil rights agenda."

In a Washington Post podcast, civil rights lawyer Vanita Gupta said the contrast between her time under former President Barack Obama in the Justice Department and the current administration couldn't be starker.

“I have a severe case of whiplash, not just from being at the Justice Department, but also, quite honestly, from being a civil rights lawyer my whole life,” Gupta told the Post. “I just have never seen an administration in my lifetime that has been so intent on pursuing an anti-civil rights agenda."

Gupta, who now leads The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, said despite the current administration's actions, she's inspired by communities pushing back on President Trump's attempts to rollback civil rights.

"I am heartened by the level of energy that exists in communities around the country that are pushing back," Gupta said. "I don’t think any of us who believe in our country and in American ideals are gonna give up and kind of just throw our hands up and cower into a corner."

Listen to Gupta's interview below, via the Post.