Monday morning, several Birmingham civil rights groups assembled downtown at the Federal Courthouse for a press conference, voicing opposition to President -Elect Donald Trump’s choice Of Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions for the position of U.S. Attorney General.

Standing in solidarity with the NAACP were members of Black Lives Matter Birmingham, The Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice, Birmingham Islamic Society, White Birminghamians for Black Lives, HICA – Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama , and SURJ – Showing Up for Racial Justice.

Cara McClure, of Black Lives Matter Birmingham, made note of the diversity of the the group in attendance, proclaiming that, “2017 is the Year of Radical Solidarity And Inclusivity.”

Hezekiah Jackson IV, president of the Metro Birmingham chapter of the NAACP read a statement, including in part, “Our opposition (to Sessions) has been joined by more than 200,000 citizens who have signed our online petition, 1,300 law professors of America, The Congressional Black Caucus, Mrs. Evelyn Turner of the Marion Three and others who believe in an America where bias and bigotry much not be in any place, especially in the nation’s top law enforcer.”

Eric Hall of Black Lives Matter Birmingham, as well as Hezekiah Jackson offered prayers on behalf of those who feel threatened by the possible appointment of someone who, as Mr. Jackson stated, “was once rejected as too biased to hold a federal judgeship and has unapologetically and overwhelmingly exhibited a career filled with more lack of tolerance and indifference to civil rights, human rights and voting rights and will more likely than not prove a threat to liberty and justice for all.”

A busload of protesters left Montgomery Monday afternoon, headed to Washington to attend the confirmation hearings. According to Jackson, “National NAACP President, Rev. Cornell Brooks, is set to testify and we will be in prayer for protection against the harm we believe his (Sessions’) confirmation will bring to many segments of Americans.