"Though he claims to have dropped his Klan robe and now sports a suit, his actions prove that he's still the same old racist Byrd," the Rev. Peterson told NewsMax. "We're calling on all Americans to repudiate this modern-day Bull Connor."

The BOND leader said the West Virginia Democrat's decision to block Rice "shows that he believes blacks should not enjoy the same freedoms as white Americans: the freedom to work hard and rise to the highest level in the land."

He extended his condemnation to Senators Barbara Boxer and John Kerry, who he said were also "enemies to black people" because they support the efforts of the one-time night rider.

On Thursday, the Congress of Racial Equality denounced Sen. Byrd, saying his decision to obstruct Rice was based on racism.

"Byrd was a racist 50 years ago under the guise of leading the Dixiecrats, and he's a non-reformed Dixiecrat today," CORE spokesman Niger Innis said.

The only difference between the Robert Byrd of the 1950s and now, Innis added, is that "he's got black colleagues in the House and the Senate who apologize for him."

Monday night, the CORE spokesman reiterated his condemnation of Byrd, blasting other Senate Democrats as his accomplices.

Speaking about his initial remarks, Innis told the Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes": "My only regret is that I didn't include Barbara Boxer and Harry Reid. I call these three the unholy triumvirate of the Democratic Party."

Innis criticized recent attacks by the Marin County Democrat and the Senate minority leader on African-American conservatives, complaining that Boxer had attacked Dr. Rice's integrity rather than her policies and that Reid had criticized Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas as an unintelligent "embarrassment."

"And Bobby Byrd, the former Klansman ... is now using his old tactics, that I suppose he learned as a Dixiecrat in the Senate, to stall the nomination of this very important position, secretary of state, when we're at war," he told Sean Hannity.

On Saturday the New York Post questioned whether Sen. Byrd's long history of public antipathy toward blacks was linked to his opposition to Rice.

"They say a leopard can't change its spots," the paper editorialized. "Can a one-time Klansman change his, umm, sheets? The way Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W. Va.) acted this week, it's fair to ask."

Sen. Reid has allotted Sen. Byrd and Sen. Boxer one hour each to continue their attacks on Rice when the full Senate debates her nomination later today.

To learn more about Sen. Byrd's long history of public racism, Click Here.

Editor's note: