Senator Miller Must Apologize for “Lynching” Remark, Says Civil Rights Coalition

Washington – Wade Henderson, executive director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR), the nation’s oldest, largest, and most diverse civil and human rights coalition, with over 180 member organizations, today called on Senator Zell Miller to apologize to the American people for his outrageous comments during last night’s Republican talk-a-thon on judicial nominations.

“Senator Zell Miller’s comment equating opposition to the nomination of Janice Rogers Brown to a lynching is despicable on its face,” Henderson said. “Either Senator Miller has conveniently forgotten a frightening period of American history, or he is willfully demeaning all those African-Americans who were hung from trees throughout the period of racial segregation in the South,” Henderson continued.

LCCR believes that all Americans value civil rights progress and would be deeply offended by Senator Miller’s comments. His ugly lynching remark has no place in any debate. “Senator Miller, you owe a deep apology to all those whose family members were murdered by members of the Ku Klux Klan and White Citizens Councils and those who fought to end lynch mob violence. Just as Senator Lott apologized for his insensitive comments, so should you,” Henderson stated.