PRESS CALL: Senators Schumer, Booker, Civil Rights Groups Underscore Barrett’s Sham Confirmation Process

Courts Resources 10.20.20

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES 
Contacts:
Rafael Medina, The Leadership Conference, [email protected], 202.869.0390;
Laurie Kinney, People For the American Way, [email protected], 571.882.3615;
Zack Ford, Alliance for Justice, [email protected], 717.512.5819;
Olympia Feil, National Women’s Law Center, [email protected], 202-588-5180;
Phoebe Plagens, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, [email protected], 212.965.2235;
Sandra Hernandez, MALDEF, [email protected], 310.386.5768;
Protect Our Care, [email protected]
Nick Morrow, Human Rights Campaign, [email protected], 865.386.8244

WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, October 21, at 10 a.m. ET, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, People For the American Way, Alliance for Justice, National Women’s Law Center, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund), Protect Our Care and the Human Rights Campaign will hold a press call ahead of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote to advance the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett. The groups will outline the Senate’s misplaced priorities, sham process, and opposition to Barrett’s deeply concerning record.

Donald Trump picked Barrett because her record reflects his desire to undermine people’s rights, as made clear by his threat to choose a justice who would be the decisive vote to take health care away from millions and overturn Roe v. Wade. During the hearing, Barrett’s testimony raised other serious concerns. She refused to say that presidents should commit to the peaceful transfer of power and did not seem to know that voter intimidation is illegal. Nothing she said alleviated our grave concerns about her record on access to health care, reproductive freedom, LGBTQ equality, immigrant justice, and more. In this rushed process, Barrett has failed to disclose crucial information and she has since updated her questionnaire twice. Senate Republicans are now set to advance Barrett’s nomination to the full Senate, disregarding the millions of people who have voted and know what’s at stake.

To RSVP, please email Rafael Medina at [email protected].

WHEN:

Wednesday, October 21 | 10:00 a.m. ET

WHO:

U.S Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.)
Vanita Gupta, president and CEO, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Ben Jealous, president, People For the American Way
Nan Aron, president, Alliance for Justice
Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO, National Women’s Law Center
Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.
Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel, MALDEF
Leslie Dach, chair, Protect Our Care
Alphonso David, president, Human Rights Campaign

DIAL-IN INFORMATION:

Dial-in: 1 (877) 615-4337;
Passcode: 5489 166#

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About The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 220 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

About People For the American Way

People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity and justice for all. We encourage civic participation, defend fundamental rights, and fight to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable opportunity. Learn more: http://www.pfaw.org.

About Alliance for Justice

Alliance for Justice is a national association of over 120 organizations, representing a broad array of groups committed to progressive values and the creation of an equitable, just, and free society. Since 1979, AFJ has been the leader in advocating for a fair and independent justice system, preserving access to the courts, and empowering others to stand up and fight for their causes. Learn more at https://www.afj.org/

About the Women’s National Law Center

The National Women’s Law Center fights for gender justice — in the courts, in public policy, and in our society — working across the issues that are central to the lives of women and girls. We use the law in all its forms to change culture and drive solutions to the gender inequity that shapes our society and to break down the barriers that harm all of us — especially those who face multiple forms of discrimination, including women of color, LGBTQ people, and low-income women and families. For more than 45 years, we have been on the leading edge of every major legal and policy victory for women.

About the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF)

Founded in 1940, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization and has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957—although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund or LDF.

About MALDEF

Founded in 1968, MALDEF is the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization.  Often described as the “law firm of the Latino community,” MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education, and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights, and political access. For more information on MALDEF, please visit: www.maldef.org.

About Protect Our Care

Protect Our Care is leading the fight to protect and strengthen health care for millions of Americans and to stop the relentless Republican war on the Affordable Care Act and America’s health care system. We are the outreach, rapid response, research and messaging center in the fight to protect health care, and we work closely with our partners in the progressive community to ensure access to affordable, quality health care is protected for all in this country. The fight to protect health care has never been more important. Protect Our Care is working every day to engage the American people in this effort — and with your help, we will win this fight. For more information on Protect Our Care, visit www.protectourcare.org.

About Human Rights Campaign

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work, and in every community.