For Immediate Release
Thursday, December 12, 2002
Nation's Largest Public Service Employees Union Calls For Resignation of Senator Trent Lott Over Racist Remark
Washington, DC —The American Federation of State, County and Municipals Employees, (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, is calling for the resignation of Senator Trent Lott, (R-MS) in the wake of racist comments he made during the recent 100th birthday celebration for retiring Senator Strom Thurmond.
The AFSCME International Executive Board adopted a resolution during its board meeting calling upon Senator Lott to resign as Majority Leader-elect and as a United State Senator.
"Senator Lott's remarks were unconscionable," said Gerald W. McEntee. "They reflect views that were wrong in 1948, wrong in 1980 and wrong today. He cannot adequately represent our diverse nation in the position of Majority Leader or a United States Senator."
Senator Lott has a long history of making statement that reflects a deeply held racist ideology. An examination of Lott's record reveals that his remark last week was not an isolated "slip of the tongue," or a misstatement. In 1980, Senator Lott made an identical statement after Senator Thurmond gave a fiery speech at a campaign rally for Ronald Reagan. Senator Lott said, "You know if we had elected this man 30 years ago, we wouldn't be in the mess we are today."
The resolution also calls upon the Senate to denounce Senator Lott's racist views and remarks, adding that any racist remarks made by any senator in the future should be immediately denounced and subject to a censure vote.
AFSCME is the largest public service employees union representing 1.3 million members
SENATOR TRENT LOTT
WHEREAS:
Senator Trent Lott made a deeply troubling statement on the occasion of Senator Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday celebration when he said that, "I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either."; and
WHEREAS:
An examination of Senator Lott's record reveals that this remark was not an isolated "slip of the tongue" or a misstatement; and
WHEREAS:
Senator Lott has a long history of making statements that reflect a deeply held racist ideology; and
WHEREAS:
In 1980, Senator Lott made an almost identical statement after Senator Strom Thurmond gave a fiery speech at a campaign rally for Ronald Reagan. On that occasion, Senator Lott said, "You know if we had elected this man 30 years ago, we wouldn't be in the mess we are today."; and
WHEREAS:
Senator Lott has long been affiliated with a racist organization known as the Council of Conservative Citizens, telling its members in 1992 that they stood for the "right principles and right philosophy"; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME believes that Senator Lott cannot adequately represent the interests of our diverse nation in the position of Majority Leader that he is about to assume or as a United States Senator from the State of Mississippi; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME calls upon Senator Lott to resign as Majority Leader-elect and as a United States Senator;
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That AFSCME calls upon the Senate to denounce Senator Lott's racist views and remarks. In the event of any similar occurrence in the future, the remarks of any senator should be immediately denounced and subject to a censure vote.
ADOPTED BY: INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME)
DECEMBER 12, 2002
