People across the country are rallying to oppose the nomination of Brett Kavanagh to the Supreme Court, fearful that his confirmation could be detrimental to the future of the Affordable Care Act, abortion rights, workers’ rights, and more.
On July 9, immediately after Trump chose the right-wing political operative to replace the Supreme Court’s retiring swing-vote Justice Anthony Kennedy, hundreds gathered at the Supreme Court in protest, with Senators like Cory Booker urging the crowd to action.
Since then, progressives have rallied from Capitol Hill to district offices. Even in states like Iowa and Alabama, progressives have gathered outside their Senators district offices to urge them to vote no. Democratic Senators up for reelection in red states – Heidi Heitkamp, Joe Donnelly and Joe Manchin – are facing mounting pressure by progressives to publicly speak out against Kavanaugh.
Meanwhile, vulnerable Republican Senators from blue states may risk losing reelection by voting for Kavanaugh. Senator Dean Heller (R-Nevada) backed Trump’s Supreme Court nominee before he even announced it would be Kavanaugh. His opponent Jacky Rosen told Politico she “couldn’t see [herself] voting yes” on Kavanaugh. Hillary Clinton won Nevada in 2016.
NARAL Pro-Choice America is organizing a protest at the end of August to influence these key decision makers during the Congressional recess. “We’re working with 30 different partners to around the country to do an August 26 50-state day of action, specifically directed at senators who will be home at the time to listen to their constituents, asking them to vote no on Kavanaugh,” said NARAL President Ilyse Hogue.
According to a Quinnipiac poll, more Americans want Kavanaugh blocked than confirmed.
Two weeks ago the House Pro-Choice Caucus held a press conference to voice concern over the threat that Judge Kavanaugh poses for reproductive rights. With Kavanaugh on the Court, conservatives will have the majority they need to try to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion across the country.
Kavanaugh was selected from a list of 25 jurists who were handpicked by the Federalist Society, an organization that mentors young conservative lawyers and grooms the next generation of judicial leaders to be sympathetic to their values, including ending legal abortion.
Justice Kennedy officially begins his retirement this week, and confirmation hearings for Kavanaugh are expected to in September.
Media Resources: PBS 7/27/18; Vox 7/29/18; Slate 7/26/18; Politico 7/25/18; Quinnipiac 7/25/18; Feminist Newswire 7/17/18
