Author: Andrea Fernández Aponte
January 19, 2017
You saw the hearing. You heard his responses. It’s clear that protecting human rights is not a priority for Rex Tillerson.
Several weeks ago, President-elect Trump nominated the Exxon Mobil CEO to be our country’s top diplomatic chair. Even then, based on his record alone, we had grave concerns about the direction U.S. foreign policy would take under a Tillerson-led State Department. Now, after his confirmation hearing, we are convinced that he is the wrong man for the job.
During the hearing, he demonstrated an alarming reluctance to acknowledge human rights abuses or to call out their perpetrators. Yet, we know environmental, indigenous, women’s, LGBTI, and human rights defenders are under attack, in Latin America and around the globe. Just this week another indigenous environmental defender, Isidro Baldenegro López, was murdered in Mexico. Rex Tillerson’s background in one of the industries that most threatens our environment today and his testimony to the Senate prove he is not the right fit for this consequential role.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s vote on Tillerson’s nomination will likely take place Monday. However, the committee chair has already said that he plans on moving the nomination to the Senate floor even if the committee panel votes against it.
Together we can stop Tillerson’s appointment. But we must act NOW. Please take 2 minutes to contact your senators and demand they vote against Rex Tillerson.
