Mr. Sessions' conduct as a U.S. Attorney, from his politically-motivated voting fraud prosecutions to his indifference toward criminal violations of civil rights laws, indicated that he lacks the temperament, fairness and judgment to be a federal judge.

Civil rights leaders, including my husband and Albert Turner, have fought long and hard to achieve free and unfettered access to the ballot box. Mr. Sessions has used the awesome power of his office to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens in the district he now seeks to serve as a federal judge.

I support the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act.

It is difficult to overstate the importance of the Civil Rights Act.

I agree that Dr. King contributed to civil rights. What I don't agree with is that the only way you can celebrate civil rights is another government holiday.

The nation has lost a committed civil and human rights activist whose life and contributions have made a significant difference.