Jeff Sessions’ ‘extremist record’ attacked by Hispanic Group without evidence
Amnesty Intl – Nov, 2016
President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement that he intends to nominate Senator Jeff Sessions to serve as U.S. Attorney General raises serious questions and concerns about human rights protections affecting millions of people, Amnesty International USA said today.
“Jeff Sessions has spent his career trying to use the power of the government to restrict people’s human rights and civil rights,” said Margaret Huang, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA. “People’s right to live free of discrimination and persecution in the United States is at stake, and we are deeply concerned and troubled by this nomination.”
Sessions has defended proposals to ban Muslims from entering the U.S., has been dogged by reports of having made racist statements, fought efforts to expand voting rights and implement criminal justice reform, sought to restrict immigration to the U.S., and opposed marriage equality. In the Senate, he was an outspoken opponent of a resolution condemning religious bans on people entering the U.S. and a bill that would prevent U.S. officials from using torture in interrogations.
“Jeff Sessions has been on the wrong side of a host of issues that reflect the United States’ commitment to human rights and international law. Amnesty International’s grassroots members in all 50 states will press their Senators to question him vigorously during the conformation process,” Huang said.
Amnesty Int’l – Feb. 8, 2016: “Amnesty International to Newly Confirmed Attorney General: Your Duty is To Uphold the Law, and We Will Hold You Accountable”
Despite efforts by civil rights and human rights groups to delay his confirmation, Senator Jeff Sessions was confirmed today as Attorney General. Following is a statement from Margaret Huang, executive director of Amnesty International USA.
“As Attorney General, Jeff Sessions must remember that his duty is to uphold the law and protect everyone’s human rights. Attorneys General do not have the option of choosing which people should enjoy their rights, or which rights are worthy of being protected. Amnesty International’s 1.2 million members and supporters in the U.S. will be monitoring his actions closely and will hold him accountable at every turn.
“This administration has already shown a disregard for people’s human rights with an executive order that writes anti-Muslim bigotry into policy and refuses to help refugees, some of the most vulnerable, at-risk people in the world. Jeff Sessions must leave behind his deeply troubling record on human rights, including his past racist statements and his fight to allow U.S. officials to torture people. “
“His job now is to protect people’s rights, not take them away, and we won’t let him forget that.”
AIUSA expressed concerns about Sessions’ record on civil and human rights at the time of his nomination, including his record of making racist statements, fighting efforts to advance voting rights and implement criminal justice reform, seeking to restrict immigration to the U.S., and opposing marriage equality. In the Senate, he was an outspoken opponent of a resolution condemning religious bans on people entering the U.S. and a bill that would prevent U.S. officials from using torture in interrogations.
