Harrisburg protesters join national demonstrations against Sessions’ ouster

Jeff Sessions was pushed out Wednesday as U.S. attorney general after enduring more than a year of blistering and personal attacks from President Donald Trump over his recusal from the Russia investigation. Groups throughout the country planned demonstrations to protest the ouster. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Jeff Sessions was pushed out Wednesday as U.S. attorney general after enduring more than a year of blistering and personal attacks from President Donald Trump over his recusal from the Russia investigation. Groups throughout the country planned demonstrations to protest the ouster. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Activists are launching widespread protests over the resignation of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions who was forced out of office by President Donald Trump.

A group was expected to rally in front of the Capitol in Harrisburg Thursday at 5 p.m., and others are doing the same across Pennsylvania and the country.

Sessions’ ouster came on the heels of the midterm election, which saw the Republican Party lose control of the House.

Now, MoveOn, Indivisible, and Common Cause — all left-leaning or nonpartisan groups that have been critical of Trump — are orchestrating a wave of protests, in partnership with a dozen other groups.

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They’re concerned Sessions’ departure is the first step in the president attempting to bury Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian tampering in the 2016 presidential election.

Harrisburg-area organizer Kimberly Rutherford said the rallies have been in the works for more than a year, in some form or another — it was just a matter of when.

“This move was a red line because it was clearly intended to hinder or end the investigation,” she said.

Rutherford described herself as a suburban mom who isn’t a professional activist.

She said nationally, people concerned with Sessions’ departure are holding more than 900 protests.

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