Civil rights advocates brace for a radical shift in Justice Department priorities under Sessions, Trump

[Draggingtree]

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Civil rights advocates brace for a radical shift in Justice Department priorities under Sessions, Trump

Los Angeles Times By Del Quentin Wilber and contributed to this report Seema Mehta.

 

REPORTING FROM WASHINGTON - Under the Obama administration, the Justice Department's civil rights division was rebuilt into what former Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. called the agency's "crown jewel."

 

But many civil rights advocates and legal scholars voiced concern Friday that the unit faces an uncertain future under the leadership of President-elect Donald Trump and his pick to be the next attorney general, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.).

 

They predict the Justice Department in the coming years will be less likely to sue states over voting restrictions that target the poor or minorities, to hold police departments accountable for abuses or fight in court for the rights of transgender people.

 

Also vulnerable are Justice Department guidelines set under President Obama that sought more lenient sentences for nonviolent offenders and restricted racial profiling and surveillance of Muslims.

 

Among the biggest objections to Sessions, civil rights groups say, is that he has voted against expanding rights for gays and lesbians, spoken dismissively of the 1965 Voting Rights Act and was denied a federal judgeship in 1986 over racially insensitive remarks he made.

 

[Draggingtree]

Seriously Trump?!?! The Pictures of Jeff Sessions They Don’t Want You To See.

By Erick Erickson | November 19, 2016, 10:55am

 

Jeff Sessions is going to be the next Attorney General of the United States. The Senate Democrats, having scrapped the filibuster on nominations, have no way to stop him. Will these pictures stop him?

 

They show Jeff Sessions marching in the streets with… wait for it … no seriously, wait for it… civil rights icon John Lewis. Whaaaaa???

http://theresurgent.com/seriously-trump-the-pictures-of-jeff-sessions-they-dont-want-you-to-see/

[Draggingtree]

Sessions: Unapologetic Defender of Religious Liberty

 

Known for his strong stance on immigration, the senator represents true conservative principles

 

November 18, 2016

by Elisa Cipollone | Updated 19 Nov 2016 at 1:23 AM

 

President-Elect Donald Trump has turned to Sen. Jeff Sessions for the position of attorney general — not shocking, given the senator’s history with the Trump campaign and the two men’s mutual focus on the immigration issue.

 

Sessions is famous for his strong stance against amnesty and has never balked when it comes to law and order — but the other important conservative victory that would come with his appointment is on the issue of religious liberty.

 

“Our policies in this country as a nation should focus on life, should focus on decency, and focus on love for even the least of these.”

 

Sen. Sessions has been a strong and consistent defender on faith and family issues.

http://www.lifezette.com/faithzette/sessions-unapologetic-defender-religious-liberty/