Subject Line: Alito and the assault on civil rights

For years, far-right politicians have attempted to roll-back the clock on hard-fought civil rights protections. Samuel Alito's confirmation to the Supreme Court could take this assault to a new level. During his career as a judge, Alito has consistently demonstrated his hostility towards laws that ensure racial equality and protect the civil rights of Americans. If history is a guide, Alito's presence on the Supreme Court will put some of our most basic civil rights protections in jeopardy. We cannot afford to let this happen.

Next week, the Senate will decide whether or not to confirm Alito to the Supreme Court. Join us in calling on all Senators who value civil rights protections to do everything in their power to stop Alito's confirmation:

http://www.colorofchange.org/alito/

Since his nomination, civil rights lawyers have scrutinized Alito's record as a judge. Based on their analysis of Alito's record, writings, and his testimony before the Senate, civil rights groups, across the board, have come out against his nomination.

In an employment discrimination trial eight years ago, Judge Alito dissented from the opinion of the two other judges on the case, arguing that the employee should not receive a trial. While the majority ruled that she had enough evidence of discrimination to deserve a trial, Alito argued for setting the bar higher. The other judges in the case rebuked Alito for his opinion, saying that if the courts followed his reasoning, the law against employment discrimination would be "eviscerated." [1]

In a case in which a black defendant alleged racism in the jury selection process, Alito's dissenting opinion similarly provoked criticism from his fellow judges. The majority ruled that "an amateur with a pocket calculator" could see that the prosecutor was removing jurors based on their race, but Alito compared the evidence in the case to the fact that five of the last six presidents have been left-handed. The other judges in the case chastised Alito, saying that his analogy minimized "the history of discrimination against black jurors." [2]

These are just a couple of examples among many. Judge Alito's record is extensive, and it clearly indicates a tendency to interpret the law in ways that undermine the civil rights of Black folks and others. If confirmed, Alito will replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who often cast the deciding vote in upholding important civil rights protections. Alito's record tells us that in those close 5-4 decisions, he would more than likely be on the wrong side, tipping the balance of the court against protecting civil rights.

To prevent Alito from being confirmed, senators will have to do more than vote against his confirmation. They will most likely have to resort to the filibuster, a tactic used to prevent his confirmation from coming to a vote. Please let your Senators know that you support them using the filibuster to prevent Alito's confirmation. Fifty years of civil rights gains may depend on it.

http://www.colorofchange.org/alito/

Thank You and Peace,

-- James Rucker, Van Jones, and the ColorOfChange.org team
   ColorOfChange.org
   January 23rd, 2006
 

1. "Critics See Ammunition In Alito's Rights Record," Washington Post, November 3, 2005
http://colorofchange.org/ref/alito_wp.html

2. "Turning the spotlight on Alito's civil rights record," by U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Houston Chronicle, January 10, 2006
http://www.colorofchange.org/ref/alito_chron.html