#SaveSCOTUS

From September 25, 2020, remarks I gave at a rally to #SaveSCOTUS in front of Senator Chuck Schumer’s Manhattan office. Seems like a lifetime ago now, but that’s 2020.

Good afternoon.

Let’s start with a moment of silence for

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Breonna Taylor

All the many we have lost this year.

Earlier today Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the first woman to lie in state at our capital. In death, she is still breaking barriers.

There’s not much I can say about Ruth Bader Ginsburg that has not already been said. She was a fierce, brilliant, fair, strong lawyer, judge, and woman. She fought hard and stood strong for herself and for all of us — especially those who struggle to be equal and find justice in our country. She battled oppressive ideas; sexism; cancer, and injustice. We are here today to continue her legacy, her fight — and to push our Senator, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to do the same.

I have stood, we all have stood, in front of our senator’s office many times before — pushing him to stand strong and fight for all of us. But today is perhaps the most urgent time we will be here. In the lead up to what will be a contentious and possibly close election that may require resolution by the Supreme Court, allowing an overtly partisan nominee a seat on the court will undermine the legitimacy of our Supreme Court, the election, and further imperil our already fragile democracy. Senator Schumer must stand strong and not allow this to happen.

There is so much that Senator Schumer could lead the Senate Democrats to do — exercise rights to delay general senate action, exercise rights in the Judiciary Committee, ask the House of Representatives to take up measures requiring senate action — use every single procedural tool available to delay proceedings and block any nominee to the Supreme Court until after the inauguration in 2021.

If the republicans succeed in installing a new Supreme Court Justice before inauguration, Senator Schumer must unite Senate Democrats to lay out clear consequences to ensure a more balanced court, including the expansion of the Supreme Court.

We also must stand strong and do our part by going to rallies like this and making our voices heard. Continuing to call, email, and use social media to hold Senator Schumer to account and let him know what we expect — what we demand. Voting and getting out the vote. And phone banking — making the calls to swing states for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, for Democratic senate challengers in key states to flip the US senate, and for New York state candidates who will protect us here at home.

Senator Schumer we are counting you to stand strong together with us and fight fight fight!