from NAACP

[handmade34]

As early as today--Wednesday, June 27, the U.S. House of Representatives could take an extreme measure and vote to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress. This unprecedented action is unwarranted and, quite frankly, nothing more than an attempt
to distract and prevent him from continuing to enforce the nation's civil and voting rights laws.

We need your help today.

Please call your representative now (202-224-3121) and urge them to oppose holding Attorney General Holder in contempt of Congress.

Since taking office as United States Attorney General in 2009, Eric Holder has successfully restored the integrity of the U.S. Department of Justice. He has revitalized the Civil Rights Division, fought anti-democracy governors seeking to block millions of Americans from voting and worked to advance and protect the promise of America for all.

But extreme elements within the U.S. House are threatening him with a contempt of Congress citation, saying he has not been forthcoming with information about the botched "Fast and Furious" illegal arms trafficking program.

These are the same extremist elements in the House of Representatives that amended the Commerce, Justice and Science appropriations bill, adding riders restricting resources to fight racial profiling and enforce voting rights and labor rights.

The NAACP supports accountability and transparency at every level. However, this crusade in Congress reeks of partisan politics. All signs indicate the AG is complying with Congress on the "Fast and Furious" program. He has supplied Congress with thousands of pages of documents about the program and testified on the issue eight times in the past eighteen months.

Threatening to hold a sitting U.S. Attorney General in contempt of Congress has serious consequences -- this could lead to a criminal charge that carries up to 12 months in prison. This is a dangerous, destructive and distractive political ploy that must end now.

Tell your member of Congress to reject these extreme tactics of mass distraction and division by opposing the circulation of a contempt of Congress citation. Call the Congressional switchboard today: 202-224-3121

In the moment when Attorney General Holder defends our democracy against the greatest wave of voter suppression laws in more than a century, none of us can afford for those who would further divide our nation to further distract.

Thank you for your support.

Hilary O. Shelton
Director, Washington Bureau
NAACP