By Jordain Carney, The Hill
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) said Wednesday that he will oppose Rahm Emanuel’s nomination to be ambassador to Japan.
“Black Lives Matter. Here in the halls of Congress, it is important that we not just speak and believe these words, but put them into action in the decisions we make,” Merkley said in a statement.
“I have carefully considered Mayor Emanuel’s record—and the input of civil rights leaders, criminal justice experts, and local elected officials who have reached out to the Senate to weigh in—and I have reached the decision that I cannot support his nomination to serve as a U.S. Ambassador,” Merkley added in a statement.
The committee is evenly split between Republicans and Democrats, meaning Emanuel will need help from Republicans to get his nomination to the Senate floor. But Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), who previously has served as ambassador to Japan, has backed Emanuel’s nomination and introduced him at his committee hearing.
Recent Posts
Antisemitism: The Big Lie Smearing Campus Protesters
May 2, 2024
Take Action Now Students are being slandered by politicians, the media, and campus administrators. By Richard (RJ) Eskow, The Zero Hour…
I’ve Covered Violent Crackdowns On Protests For 15 Years. This Police Overreaction Was Unhinged.
May 2, 2024
Take Action Now When police attacked student protesters, a lone trash can was the only damaged property I saw around City College of New York. By…
The Crackdown On Campus Protests Is A Bipartisan Attack On Palestine
May 2, 2024
Take Action Now Unlike apartheid-era South Africa, many universities aren’t even recognizing Israel’s human rights abuses. by Stephen Zunes, The…
This May Day, Let’s Follow The Lead Of Immigrant Workers
May 1, 2024
Take Action Now Let’s follow the lead of immigrant workers organizing for a world without borders — this May Day and beyond. by David Bennion and…