Black women leaders urge Congress to block Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUL 10, 2018
Contact: Alexa Mauzy-Lewis, Camino PR
alexa@caminopr.com / 212-255-2575

Statement by In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda Founder and Executive Director Marcela Howell
WASHINGTON – Yesterday, President Trump announced Brett Kavanaugh as his nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy. In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda Founder and Executive Director Marcela Howell issued the following statement in response:

“Brett Kavanaugh has a history of sexism and undermining women’s rights. From scrutinizing the precedent of abortion rights to showing sympathy to organizations denying women basic health care on the basis of “religious liberty,” it is clear that he will uphold the Trump administration’s war on reproductive freedom.

“Do not let Kavanaugh’s focus on his daughters and women law clerks during his
acceptance speech fool you. This is the same man who tried to use his judicial power to prevent an undocumented woman in U.S. custody from accessing her right to an abortion and the same man who allegedly called Hillary Clinton derogatory names. He would attack women’s rights, civil rights and human rights if he is confirmed.

“Trump promised that his nominee would overturn Roe v. Wade. Our U.S. senators have a responsibility to stop this from happening and defend our bodily integrity. Black women and all women of color will suffer the most. We already face heightened barriers to accessing health care. It is imperative that we keep working to expand access to critical health services, not move backward.

“We cannot stand idly by and let Trump further imprint his horrible legacy on the high court. We urge the Senate to reject Kavanaugh and stand with the Black women and women of color fighting to ensure that every woman has the resources and right to make decisions about her own body.”

###

In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda is a national reproductive justice organization focused on lifting up the voices of Black women at the national and regional levels in our ongoing policy fight to secure reproductive justice for all women and girls. Our eight strategic partners include Black Women for Wellness, Black Women’s Health Imperative, New Voices for Reproductive Justice, Sisterlove, Inc. SisterReach, SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW, The Afiya Center and Women With A Vision.