Speaking to more than 100 law enforcement officials, U.S. Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales called the audience members heroes to moms and dads they will never meet. Gonzales praised them for their work to protect children and reminded them they have the power to right great wrongs.
Gonzales was the keynote speaker for the Criminal Agencies Seminar Lunch and Awards Program held Wednesday, August 15, at the Eberhard Center. His visit was sponsored by Grand Valley's School of Criminal Justice and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Michigan.
Gonzales said spoke about the federal program "Project Safe Neighborhood" and "Think Before You Post," a program aimed at young girls to teach them about online predators. "Nothing is private on the World Wide Web," Gonzales said. "The more young girls know about the threat, the more likely they'll be able to take steps to protect themselves."
Grand Valley President Thomas J. Haas pointed out the important relationship the university has fostered with the Department of Justice and the U.S Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan. "This partnership, through the work of criminal justice professor Bill Crawley, has allowed the university to be involved in the surrounding communities in a tangible way," Haas said. "We have been able to reach out in the community and address anti-gun violence and anti-gang violence."
Gonzales encouraged law enforcement officials to take their message to the streets and educate their communities about how to keep children safe.
Gonzales was appointed U.S. attorney general in February 2005 by President George W. Bush.
Listen to audio clips from Gonzales' speech:
- Gonzales spoke about federal programs to keep children safe.
- Gonzales said children need to know that there is nothing private about the World Wide Web.
- Gonzales said dangers of the Internet need to be talked about openly and often.
