Members of Congress must reject the nomination of Jeff Sessions as attorney general. As a known racist with a long record of opposing civil rights and equality, it is unimaginable that he could be entrusted to serve as the nation’s top law enforcement official.

I'm Benard Simelton, the Alabama State Conference president of the NAACP.

Earlier this week, I was arrested while performing civil disobedience for sitting in Senator Jeff Sessions' state office in Alabama in opposition to his nomination for attorney general. He is wholly unqualified to be the nation's top law enforcement official, as demonstrated by his long and troubling record in opposition to civil and human rights.

As the highest law enforcement official, the attorney general has the responsibility to protect the civil and human rights of all races, colors and genders. Senator Sessions is not that person and presents an extreme danger to the equality, diversity and inclusiveness that the U.S. has achieved over the last decade.

There are just days left to urge your members of Congress to block the appointment of Sessions. Click here to sign the petition.

There are many reasons for Congress to block the appointment of Jeff Sessions:

* He has a long history of opposing civil rights enforcement and making racist statements.

* He has championed voter suppression.

* He opposes hate crime legislation.

* He has opposed multiple efforts to address pay equity for women.

* He is a staunch opponent of legal immigration.

...And so much more. In the words of U.S. Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez, "If you have nostalgia for the days when blacks kept quiet, gays were in the closet, immigrants were invisible and women stayed in the kitchen, Senator Jefferson Beauregard Sessions is your man."

Diversity, equality and compassion make America stronger. We must stand together and resist any effort to divide us up and strip away the progress that we've made.