News

Activists support Burris appointment

Posted January 01, 2009 10:00 pm

Associated Press

Activists in Chicago are pushing for lawmakers to accept Gov. Rod Blagojevich's appointment of former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to the U.S. Senate.

At a news conference Friday, about a dozen black activists said -- despite the legal cloud over Blagojevich -- the governor has the legal right to appoint Burris and Burris is highly qualified.

William Walls of the Committee for a Better Chicago warns that, if Secretary of State Jesse White doesn't certify the appointment and Sen. Dick Durbin doesn't support Burris, activists will work to defeat them in upcoming elections.

The news conference is part of efforts to pressure lawmakers into allowing Burris to fill President-elect Barack Obama's vacant senate seat.

Blagojevich's decision to fill the seat has draw criticism because the governor is facing corruption charges that accuse him of trying to profit from the appointment. He denies that.

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