DNC Chair and former head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division Tom Perez released the following statement on the Trump administration’s appointment of Eric Dreiband to lead the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division:

“When I led the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division under President Obama, we made it our mission to protect the rights of all Americans – from prosecuting hate crimes and workplace discrimination to fighting voter suppression and holding police departments accountable. Eric Dreiband’s career is anathema to that mission. Not only does he lack the experience necessary to lead such an important division, he has also fought aggressively against critical civil rights legislation. He testified against bills designed to protect women and older Americans from discrimination in the workplace, and he has spent years attacking fair employment practices that help individuals with criminal records rebuild their lives and contribute to society.

“Enough is enough. It’s time to stop Donald Trump and Republicans from abusing the powers of the federal government to protect powerful interests at the expense of the vulnerable. Let’s make our voices heard on Election Day.”