Issued January 10, 2017
WASHINGTON—SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry issued the following statement following the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing on Sen. Jeff Sessions’ nomination to be U.S. Attorney General:
“For decades, America’s working families and communities of color have struggled to build a better life in an economic and political system that favors greedy corporations and self-interested politicians over everyday people. Through loopholes and by rigging our system, corporations go unchecked while families are kept in poverty and communities of color can’t get ahead, regardless of how hard or long they work.
“Confirming Sen. Jeff Sessions, who has a history of anti-immigrant and anti-Black sentiments and proposals, as the chief law enforcement official and lawyer of the U.S. government would be tantamount to congressional negligence of the people it is elected to serve, particularly working families, immigrants, and communities of color.
“America’s Attorney General is in charge of giving legal counsel to our federal government and enforcing our laws, but Sen. Sessions’ record shows he is unfit to protect the American people from illegal acts of racism, sexism, Islamophobia and xenophobia—an essential component of the Department of Justice’s role. He has already been rejected for a federal judgeship due to racist comments, has called the Voting Rights Act a ‘piece of intrusive legislation’ and has proven to be the most anti-immigrant member of the U.S. Senate by working hand-in-hand with anti-immigrant extremists, associating with a known hate group, and making divisive and bigoted comments against immigrants. “Sen. Sessions is grossly unfit to lead the U.S. Department of Justice and carry out its core mission to promote and establish justice and the appearance of justice through vigorous and fair representation of all citizens in all matters.”