AAMIA Denounces Nuclear Option, Argues Brown and Owen Would Turn Back Clock on Civil Rights
(Washington-D.C.) May 19, 2005: AAMIA Chair Tim McDonald and Vice Chair Robert Shine were joined by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), Rev. Amos Brown of San Francisco and Rev. Kwame Osei Reid of the United Church of Christ in a press conference denouncing the "Nuclear Option" and opposing the nominations of Janice Rogers Brown and Priscilla Owen.
During the news conference Rev. McDonald of First Iconium Baptist Church in Atlanta, made the following statement in response to claims that racism and sexism are behind opposition to the Brown and Owen nominations:
"The plain truth is that it is because we look beyond the color of Janice Rogers Brown's skin—because we believe there is more to Priscilla Owen than her gender—that we must oppose their nominations. We have looked at their records, and we are deeply troubled. Theirs are the records of ideological and pro-corporate judges who will not give ordinary Americans a fair hearing. And far right nominees are a key reason that we oppose the nuclear option."
AAMIA Vice Chair Robert Shine of Berachah Baptist Church in Philadelphia echoed his colleagues' remarks on the nuclear option and the nominations of Brown and Owen, and also took a moment to urge Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) to "gather as many colleagues of good conscience as you can, and stand up to the rule-breaking, power-taking and disaster-making".