Cory Booker Protests Against Jeff Sessions’ Confirmation And Makes History Doing It

Jeff Sessions, indicating he will vote against confirming him as President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general. He also expressed skepticism that Sessions would be able to set aside his personal politics in the interest of equality.

On Wednesday, New Jersey Sen.

Also Tuesday, the American Jewish Committee urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to probe Sessions on a number of issues, including the protection of religious communities, responses to anti-Semitism, deterrence of terrorism, civil rights and voting rights, according to a statement. On Thursday’s “The Morning Joe”, Joe Scarborough called Booker’s remarks “calculated”, and suggested they were created to position him for a possible presidential run in 2020. “In a choice between standing with Senate norms and standing up for what my conscience tells me is best for our country, I will always choose conscience and country”, Booker declared.

During a lengthy hearing appearance on Tuesday, Sessions adamantly denied claims of harboring racial animus.

He has been criticized by numerous liberal and civil rights organizations, which cite his strong opposition to expansion of rights for gay and lesbian Americans, legalization of marijuana even for medical use, legal abortion, embryonic stem cell research and President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act. “For people who have been discriminated against”, Lewis said, recalling the violence he and other peaceful marchers were subjected to in Sessions’ home state of Alabama during the Civil Rights Movement.

During his four terms serving as a US senator, the 70-year-old Sessions has built a reputation as an old-school social conservative and an unwavering opponent of immigration forgiveness.

“All of these nominees are going to be approved because we are in the majority and they’re not”, said GOP Sen.

Richmond complained during his testimony that putting the all-black panel at the end of the hearings was akin to being made to go to the “back of the bus”, a reference to 1960s segregation laws.

Sessions said he has witnessed the horrendous impact that relentless and systemic discrimination and the denial of voting rights has had on African-Americans and said the country must continue to move forward.

“It doesn’t matter how Senator Sessions may smile”, Lewis added, “But we need someone who’s gonna stand up, speak up, speak out, for the people that need help, the people who have been discriminated against”.