Democratic Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren was silenced by Senate Republicans on February 7 after reading a letter written by the widow of Martin Luther King Jr.

The 30-year-old letter criticized Jeff Sessions, President Donald Trump’s nomination for attorney general.

Republican majority leader Mitch McConnell said Elizabeth Warren had broken senate rules by impugning the conduct of another senator.

Elizabeth Warren subsequently read Coretta Scott King’s letter live on Facebook.

The incident occurred during a debate in the senate on the nomination of Jeff Sessions. Mitch McConnell’s objection to Elizabeth Warren’s speech was put to a vote and senators voted 49-43 in his favor.

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Elizabeth Warren described what happened in a comment alongside her Facebook video: “During the debate on whether to make Jeff Sessions the next Attorney General, I tried to read a letter from Coretta Scott King on the floor of the Senate.

“The letter, from 30 years ago, urged the Senate to reject the nomination of Jeff Sessions to a federal judgeship. The Republicans took away my right to read this letter on the floor – so I’m right outside, reading it now.”

Coretta Scott King’s letter alleged that Jeff Sessions was unsuitable for that role because he had “used the awesome powers of his office in a shabby attempt to intimidate and frighten elderly black voters”. Jeff Sessions’ nomination process has been dogged by allegations that he attempted to suppress black votes when he was an attorney in Alabama.

The objection by Mitch McConnell raised the ire of Democrats and members of the public, many of whom shared the letter on social media using the hashtag #LetLizSpeak.

Bernice King, the daughter of Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King, wrote on Twitter: “Thank you @SenWarren for being the soul of the Senate during the #Sessions hearing. #LetCorettaSpeak #LetLizSpeak”

The DNC said in a statement it was a “sad day in America when the words of Martin Luther King Jr.’s widow are not allowed on the floor of the United States Senate”.

Elizabeth Warren is now barred from speaking on the floor for the remainder of the debate, Mitch McConnell’s office said. The debate is expected to conclude on February 8.