Local Organizations call for non-compliance statements from Krewson and Gardner
On Friday March 31st, Attorney General Jeff Sessions came to the federal courthouse to speak with law enforcement. The topic: violent crime and drug addiction.
Prior to Sessions arrival, local organizations called for city officials to make commitments to stand against Jeff Sessions and the Trump administration. “St. Louis cannot have city officials that support Sessions’ dangerous rhetoric of “law and order” and we must provide safety for all at-risk communities which includes undocumented individuals, queer, trans & black people,” their statement reads.
The group includes ArchCity Defenders, CAPCR (Coalition Against Police Crimes and Repression), MORE (Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment), St. Louis Action Council, and MCU (Metro Congregations United). Local organizations are most concerned about Sessions track record on immigration and the need to resist his views on policing.
Both mayoral frontrunner Lyda Krewson and circuit attorney Kim Gardner were called on to remain true to their campaign promises of resistance to the Trump administration and unwavering commitment to racial equity and justice.
Jeff Sessions has a record which indicates anything but racial equity. In 1986, Coretta Scott King wrote a letter congress urging that Sessions federal judge nomination be blocked. King said, “The appointment of Jefferson Sessions to the federal bench would irreparably damage the work of my husband…” King’s letter was instrumental as Session’s nomination was ultimately blocked in 1986.
With his “law and order” rhetoric, and anti immigration views Jeff Sessions appearance in St. Louis drew resistance. Protesters held “Black Lives Matter” signs and ones that read, “Jeff Sessions: Liar, Racist, Traitor”. Several protesters were calling for Sessions resignation after he lied to congress when asked about Russian contacts during his confirmation hearing.
In his speech to law enforcement, Sessions painted a dark picture of St. Louis–and the country. “While we can hope for the best, hope is not a strategy,” Sessions said, “When crime rates move in the wrong direction, they can move fast.” In reference to crime in the 1960’s and 1970’s, Sessions said, “I lived through that dark time in our history…And I can assure you: we do not want to go back to those days.” After planting a seed of fear, Sessions promised decisive action at federal, state, and local levels in response to what he called “a dangerous new trend” in violent crime.
With Sessions as attorney general, he called on state and local law enforcement to “lead the way”, promising his, and the federal government’s, steadfast support. Stating his commitment, Sessions said, “Unfortunately, in recent years law enforcement as a whole has been unfairly maligned and blamed for the crimes and unacceptable deeds of a few bad actors.”
Sessions did mention Ferguson as emblematic of rising tensions, but avoided the systemic racism revealed in the Ferguson Report. Earlier this year Jeff Sessions dismissed the Civil Rights Division’s investigations on Ferguson and Chicago law enforcement, saying, “I have not read those reports, frankly. We’ve had summaries of them, and some of it was pretty anecdotal, and not so scientifically based”.
Following Session’s speech in St. Louis, the American reached out to both Kim Gardner and Lyda Krewson for a response to his appearance and rhetoric. In February, Krewson wrote an op-ed for the American, “Racial equity is the top priority”. “As mayor, I commit to being a leading voice for equity…” Krewson continued, “Under my administration, St. Louis government will stop paying lip service to our racial divide and begin crafting solutions to address it”.
Gardner, too, declared “Black Lives Matter” in a June 2016 debate. This, it was noted in the statement made by local organization, requires resistance to the “Blue Lives Matter” police reform Jeff Sessions advocates.
Currently, Gardner is out of town and was unable to respond to our request. Lyda Krewson replied, repeating past statements, “I believe our immigrant population in St. Louis is an essential part of what makes us strong. If elected Mayor, I will oppose measures from the Trump administration that hurt immigrant and minority families.”
