02.08.2017

NEW YORK – The Center for Popular Democracy released the following statement from Emma Greenman, Director of Voting Rights and Democracy, in response to the confirmation of Jeff Sessions to lead the Department of Justice:

“The appointment of Jeff Sessions as Attorney General puts the voting rights of millions of Americans at risk. The past few years have seen a surge of state laws designed to disempower people of color and young voters, laws the Department of Justice helped to fight and ultimately got struck down or softened by the courts. 

With Jeff Sessions at the helm of the Department of Justice, the enforcement of our civil rights and voting rights laws will grind to a halt, threatening the fundamental right to vote of millions of Americans. Sessions' long-standing animosity towards the Voting Rights Act, his support for anti-immigrant legislation and his history of racial intolerance, lead to the concerning conclusion that he will not stand up to enforce the rights of all people. 

It is now on all of us to stand together and fight back. We will continue to do all we can to fight for a strong, inclusive democracy where everyone has a voice and every vote counts. Our democracy cannot be taken for granted."

###

 www.populardemocracy.org

The Center for Popular Democracy promotes equity, opportunity, and a dynamic democracy in partnership with innovative base-building organizations, organizing networks and alliances, and progressive unions across the country. CPD builds the strength and capacity of democratic organizations to envision and advance a pro-worker, pro-immigrant, racial justice agenda.

Contact: 

Asya Pikovsky, apikovsky@populardemocracy.org, 207-522-2442

Anita Jain, ajain@populardemocracy.org, 347-636-9761