After Senate Republicans on Tuesday night voted to silence Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) as she criticized attorney general nominee Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) by quoting a letter written by Coretta Scott King about Sessions, Senate Democrats took to Twitter to voice their displeasure with the hashtag #LetLizSpeak.
Word of the incident grew Tuesday night as Warren revealed she had been “red-carded” from speaking about Sessions and read the rest of Scott’s letter on Facebook Live, a video that has now been 5 million times and counting. Senate Democrats banded together, with many sharing Scott’s letter on Twitter and speaking out against the decision to silence Warren.
In a Senate dominated by men, instructing a woman Senator to “take her seat” is outrageous. #LetLizSpeak
— Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) February 8, 2017
I’ll be on the Senate floor to stand with @SenateDems @SenWarren to oppose the nomination of Jeff Sessions. Watch at https://t.co/hVvZE8ZTNB
— Senator Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) February 8, 2017
I read Mrs. King’s letter about Mr. #Sessions’ commitment to justice for all. I leave it to my colleagues to assess that commitment.
— Tom Udall (@SenatorTomUdall) February 8, 2017
In the context of this confirmation hearing, Senator Sessions’ record on civil rights must be included in the debate #LetLizSpeak
— Tom Udall (@SenatorTomUdall) February 8, 2017
Read for yourself Coretta Scott King’s letter about President Trump’s Attorney General nominee, Jeff Sessions. https://t.co/aWgUFUtjQf
— Sen. Tammy Baldwin (@SenatorBaldwin) February 8, 2017
This is absolutely outrageous. #LetLizSpeak https://t.co/uz43tQdmPv
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) February 8, 2017
Debate involves opposing viewpoints. Are we no longer “the world’s greatest deliberative body”? #letlizspeak pic.twitter.com/9L51OasnhZ
— Senator Ben Cardin (@SenatorCardin) February 8, 2017
McConnell didn’t just silence @SenWarren—he silenced civil rights icon Coretta Scott King. https://t.co/mIkdrjVWh6 pic.twitter.com/Y8PHZ0KqEQ
— Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBookerOffice) February 8, 2017
This is getting ridiculous. #LetLizSpeak https://t.co/1UH2WJZmcN
— Sheldon Whitehouse (@SenWhitehouse) February 8, 2017
Senate GOP silenced both @SenWarren and Coretta Scott King tonight. Below is the letter they don’t what you to know about: #LetLizSpeak pic.twitter.com/CGQgucgn06
— Senator Cortez Masto (@SenCortezMasto) February 8, 2017
Tonight, I voted to #LetLizSpeak. pic.twitter.com/JmzoUQ9YCs
— Senator Jack Reed (@SenJackReed) February 8, 2017
That’s the key point. Rules against criticizing other Senators cannot apply when you are DEBATING THE NOMINATION OF A SENATOR! https://t.co/mLQqP7z14d
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 8, 2017
It’s disappointing that Senate Republicans can’t listen to the words of Coretta Scott King without crying foul
— Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) February 8, 2017
This is the Coretta Scott King letter that @SenWarren was reading when McConnell silenced her tonight #StopSessions https://t.co/6GELVtRbTC
— Martin Heinrich (@MartinHeinrich) February 8, 2017
You can read the full letter here: https://t.co/iDWbhEAkBL #LetLizSpeak
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) February 8, 2017
This is about the people & families we represent. #LetLizSpeak https://t.co/4OkjXX49TT
— Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) February 8, 2017
The suggestion that reciting the words of the great Coretta Scott King by @SenWarren is an attack on a Senator is outrageous. #LetHerSpeak
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) February 8, 2017
#letlizspeak https://t.co/YL9DMPUHme
— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) February 8, 2017
This letter caused the GOP to silence @SenWarren tonight. Rt if you think they should #LetLizSpeak https://t.co/YSdugxE6Kr
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 8, 2017
.@SenateMajLdr won’t #LetLizSpeak because he can’t deny what Coretta Scott King had to say about Senator Sessions #StopSessions pic.twitter.com/pS1l6CklTJ
— Senator Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) February 8, 2017
Blocking @SenWarren from reading Coretta Scott King’s letter silenced an important voice. Unacceptable. https://t.co/OCMxpci52N
— Sen Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) February 8, 2017
