African American Ministers Denounce Alito's Record on Civil Rights

His record, they say, merits Senate rejection

Philadelphia, PA - Area ministers are joining with advocacy groups and civil rights organizations across the country in opposition to the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Samuel Alito. Philadelphia church members will receive church bulletins this Sunday and church members are going door-to-door in local communities with information about Judge Alito's civil rights record. The ministers are urging their members and their communities to call Senators Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum to ask that they vote no on Alito’s nomination.

"I cannot sit idly by as the Bush administration issues another blow to civil rights. Samuel Alito has consistently chosen to advance an agenda that would demolish civil rights protections and overturn nearly seventy years of progress,� said Rev. Robert Shine, pastor of Berachah Baptist Church and Vice-Chair of the African American Ministers In Action. “If Samuel Alito is confirmed, he will try to limit the courts’ role in fighting civil rights violations. He will roll back the clock on protections against discrimination in the workplace and in jury selection, just as he has tried to do in the past.�

Reverend Clarence Pemberton, Pastor of The New Hope Baptist Church and member of the African American Ministers in Action, has organized several members of his church who are canvassing the community in hopes of getting 1000 signatures against the nomination of Judge Alito to present to Sen. Specter on Monday.

“It is clear from this nomination that President Bush is in no way committed to protecting civil rights,� said Rev. Pemberton. “We will be everywhere with the message to say yes to our civil rights and say no to Samuel Alito – in the community, in church, in other states, and in Washington. We will win the battle for civil rights with the help of the community. We are urging our members and the community to get involved, to call Sens. Specter and Santorum and tell them to no on Alito.�

The bulletin the ministers will be disseminating in their communities is also being released across the country in 20 states where there are other members of AAMIA.