FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 6, 2018
CONTACT: Elliot Levy, [email protected], 202-800-7409
New York – Following the Senate’s vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, Stosh Cotler, CEO of Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, released the following statement:
“We are profoundly pained by the Senate’s vote today and what it means for the future of our democracy. In confirming Brett Kavanaugh largely along party lines, Republican leaders made it clear that there is nothing that will stop them from maintaining their own political power at any cost. In their view, survivors of sexual assault do not matter, lying under oath does not matter, hiding a nominee’s record does not matter, credibility does not matter, seeking the full truth does not matter, and respect for women does not matter. Instead, they have rewarded a wildly unpopular nominee — who was credibly accused of sexual assault, who wields an impetuous temperament, who has broken all norms by expressing partisan rhetoric, and who has outright promised to take revenge on Democrats — with a lifetime seat on the Supreme Court.
“We want to honor Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, Deborah Ramirez, Julie Swetnick, and the countless number of survivors who have stepped forward in recent weeks to speak truth to power and share their stories in the bravest possible ways, in the offices of their Senators, in hallways and elevators, and as a witness to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Their courage has laid the groundwork to transform our society — we thank them, and we believe them. We also thank the Senators who had the decency to listen to their constituents and vote No, even against their political interests.
“Kavanaugh’s confirmation is a fundamental threat to our values and to the rights of women, immigrants, workers, the LGBTQ community, people of color, and other vulnerable communities. We express anger and outrage in solidarity with all who recognize the grave harm the Senate has caused today and vow to redouble our efforts to hold all of Kavanaugh and Trump’s enablers accountable.”
