Moments before the start of Sen. Jeff Sessions’ confirmation hearing on Tuesday, chaotic scenes broke out in the Senate Judiciary Committee, as two demonstrators dressed as Ku Klux Klan members shouted in protest against Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general. They were swiftly escorted from the room.
HAPPENING NOW: Protestor thrown out of Sessions confirmation hearing. Dressed as klansman. pic.twitter.com/2DPJhg7M8M
— Sam Sweeney (@SweeneyABC) January 10, 2017
“You can’t arrest me! I’m white!” one of the protesters said as officials removed them from the hearing.
As Sessions walked in… pic.twitter.com/4cmgzRL2q2
— Lisa Desjardins (@LisaDNews) January 10, 2017
The incident comes as civil rights groups urge Senate Judiciary Committee members to reject Sessions’ nomination. Many of them point to his past efforts to block black judges from serving on the federal branch as evidence he is not fit to lead the Justice Department.
Breaking with long-standing Senate tradition, Sen. Cory Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey, will join civil rights hero Rep. John Lewis, a Democrat from Georgia, on Tuesday to testify against Sessions’ appointment.
Sporadic protests continued throughout the first hour of the confirmation hearing, interrupting Sen. Sessions’ opening remarks.
A black man is dragged from Sessions hearing for shouting “No Trump, No KKK”
— Pema Levy (@pemalevy) January 10, 2017
