Jeff Sessions has been around for a long time. In the 1980s, Reagan tapped Sessions for a judgeship, but the Republican Congress at the time rejected him due to his long history of racist comments and questions surrounding his unfounded prosecution of a black civil rights activist for voter fraud. Yea, he was too racist for 1980s Republicans. 

Since then, Sessions has only revealed more about himself that proves he is in no way fit to fairly uphold the law or the constitution of this country. In fact, he has really gone out of his way to target or offend nearly everyone, while advocating for authoritarianism at every turn. 

Here are just some of his views: He is opposed to key provisions of the voting rights act. He is anti bi-partisan sentencing reform, pro police militarization and thinks America is experiencing an all time crime high, despite all evidence to the contrary. He is pro boarder wall and the National Immigration Forum said, “Sessions is opposed to immigration as we know it. Full stop.” He is anti marijuana, and only disavowed the KKK when he learned its members smoked. He is anti-LGBT rights and has actively tried to protect discrimination against LGBT people. He is anti-abortion, voted against the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act and said that calling Trump’s comments about grabbing women by the genitals sexual assault was “a stretch.” He believes Islam is a “toxic ideology” and a “threat” and supports Trump’s proposed ban on immigration from Muslim countries. Oh, and he is also pro-torture. 

And then, as if all of that wasn’t enough, there are his feelings about privacy. Even though many of his Republican colleagues supported it, Jeff Sessions fought against the bi-partisan bill to end the bulk collection of phone records. According to the ACLU, he has repeatedly pushed for greater surveillance authorities than law enforcement and intelligence agencies have even asked for. And when it comes to end-to-end encryption, Sessions is perhaps one of the fiercest critics out there - strongly backing the FBI in its case against Apple to force them to create back door access to the iPhone. 

But despite all of this, on January 10th Sessions will yet again sit in front of members of Congress at his confirmation hearing - this time as Trump’s pick for Attorney General, the most powerful law enforcement office in the land. You can make sure every single bit of his dirty, anti-civil rights and anti-privacy laundry is exposed during this hearing by calling your Senators today, and often, to tell them how you feel about Sessions’ record, and to demand that the Senate Judiciary Committee leave no stone unturned when questioning Sessions at his hearing. Go to ACLU.org to read about Sessions record issue by issue, and then go to Senate.gov to find out how to reach your senator. 

So if stopping a racist man with a long, documented history of fighting against your rights from becoming Attorney General is important to you, then be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about Telling Your Senators to Expose Jeff Sessions’ Anti-Civil Rights and Anti-Privacy History via social media so that others in your network can take action too.

Stand up. Fight back. There is no time to lose.

Getting to know Jeff Sessions, Donald Trump's attorney general nominee pic.twitter.com/oKxWxQQABz

— ACLU National (@ACLU) November 18, 2016

TAKE ACTION

Call your Senators today and tell them why you oppose Jeff Sessions for Attorney General

Read ACLU’s “The Confirmation Sessions” for Jeff Sessions history, issue-by-issue 

Call Senate Judiciary Committee Members who will question Sessions on January 10th.  

EDUCATE YOURSELF

ACLU's "The Confirmation Sessions" (ACLU)

Corporate Accountability Blunders Taint Sessions Record (Public Citizen)

Trump and Sessions: Great for the Private Prison Industry, Terrible for Civil Rights (ACLU Blog)

Jeff Sessions’ Nomination as Attorney General Alarms Civil Libertarians (Wired) 

Trump’s attorney general pick could restart the encryption fight (The Verge)

Trump's pick for attorney general: 'Good people don't smoke marijuana' (The Washington Post)

Posted January 6, 20167; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

Hear this segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1069: Trump and our National Security State (Civil Rights)