Above: Supporters of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford march and chant in Palo Alto, Calif., on Sept. 20, 2018. From The Mercury News via Getty Images.
Note: Women’s organizations allied with the Democratic Party have planned a nationwide walkout and a day wearing black to protest the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh whose views on the law would undermine women’s rights, as well as the rights of workers, the environment, Internet freedom and greatly empower corporations and the national security state.
The protests were announced before the explosions this weekend which are likely to doom the nomination. After the Senate agreed to hear from the first accuser, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, who alleged an attempted rape when she was fifteen years old in high school and Kavanaugh was 17. This was followed by a second accuser from his time at Yale law school who alleged she exposed himself and put his penis in her face, laughing at her. The third accusation has come from from attorney Michael Avenatti, who represents a woman who says she was targeted by Kavanaugh and his friends. He claims to have witnesses who will testify that he and his friends used drugs and alcohol to target women for sexual assault and rape at parties.
My e-mail of moments ago with Mike Davis, Chief Counsel for Nominations for U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. We demand that this process be thorough, open and fair, which is what the American public deserves. It must not be rushed and evidence/witnesses must not be hidden. pic.twitter.com/11XLZJBTtY
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) September 24, 2018
Avenatti has continued posting on Twitter. These are pretty devastating.
Warning: My client re Kavanaugh has previously done work within the State Dept, U.S. Mint, & DOJ. She has been granted multiple security clearances in the past including Public Trust & Secret. The GOP and others better be very careful in trying to suggest that she is not credible
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) September 24, 2018
My e-mail of this morning directed to Mr. Davis, Chief Counsel for Nominations for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. The American people deserve to know the truth and evidence regarding the allegations. There must be no effort made to avoid it. pic.twitter.com/8pcdW0PqQ1
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) September 24, 2018
Here are subsequent emails between me and Mr. Davis. It appears that (1) the Committee has an issue with this process being public and (2) the Committee wants to avoid Mr. Judge testifying or even requesting that he testify. Both are absolute necessities. pic.twitter.com/jiwtFFGbJd
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) September 24, 2018
Brett Kavanaugh must also be asked about this entry in his yearbook: “FFFFFFFourth of July.” We believe that this stands for: Find them, French them, Feel them, Finger them, F*ck them, Forget them. As well as the term “Devil’s Triangle.” Perhaps Sen. Grassley can ask him. #Basta
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) September 24, 2018
It is hard to see how the Kavanaugh nomination survives these allegations. The issue more seems to be how much damage the Republicans will do to themselves by standing with him. The longer they do so the greater the damage will be in the 2018 election.
Protests have already begun at the Capitol.
More on this developing story will be coming. KZ
Update: Walkouts occurred in many parts of the United States in opposition to the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh and in support of the women who have come forward to report their allegations of abuse. Below are some treats showing the walkout.
We believe Anita Hill.
We believe Dr. Christine Blasey Ford.
We believe Deborah Ramirez.
We #BelieveSurvivors pic.twitter.com/zQ2J3qX9eJ— Brynna Quillin (@brynnaquillin) September 24, 2018
Women are watching.
Closely.
We see the bullying & intimidation.
We see the silencing of our voices.
We all deserve better than this.
And we’ll continue to demand it.#BelieveSurvivors pic.twitter.com/E2QHzzjhJN— Vanita Gupta (@vanitaguptaCR) September 24, 2018
Our team at @LawyersComm is participating in today’s national walkout.
We stand in solidarity with sexual assault survivors across the country. They deserve respect. They deserve to be heard. #BelieveSurvivors #StopKavanaugh pic.twitter.com/6kOGUK7oN2
— Kristen Clarke (@KristenClarkeJD) September 24, 2018
Some scenes from today’s #believesurvivors walkout, via @emmaladyrose @lebassett @AndyBCampbell https://t.co/tn0psBgu4h
— Marina Fang (@marinafang) September 24, 2018
“We believe you, Dr. Ford, because we ARE you.” – @TaranaBurke #BelieveSurvivors #CancelKavanaugh
(This photo, and the one above, by @brookesaias) pic.twitter.com/XMOD4IUYU6
— Women’s March (@womensmarch) September 24, 2018
To all survivors: We believe you. We’re here for you. It’s not your fault. #BelieveSurvivors pic.twitter.com/RSxH85msKO
— AAUW (@AAUW) September 24, 2018
Walking out at Dupont Circle to make it clear: we believe Dr. Blasey Ford. We believe Deborah Ramirez. We #BelieveSurvivors pic.twitter.com/Ml3wozITwb
— Alliance for Justice (@AFJustice) September 24, 2018
Dear survivors,
It is NOT your fault.
We believe you.
We’re here for you.
You’re not alone.
No one can tell you “that doesn’t count.”
You deserve respect.
Your story is your own, and you decide what to do with it — and when.
You are loved.#BelieveSurvivors #StopKavanaugh pic.twitter.com/JaxaozQQY5— Planned Parenthood Generation Action (@PPGenAction) September 24, 2018
We #BelieveSurvivors Also, we are very tough and I wouldn’t want to run into us in an alley. pic.twitter.com/VQoiMTUVXf
— Ashley Nicole Black (@ashleyn1cole) September 24, 2018
We had a full minute of silence on set to support Dr. Ford. #BelieveSurvivors #BelieveWomen #TimesUp pic.twitter.com/7zcHeRw13k
— Emmy Rossum (@emmyrossum) September 24, 2018
❤️❤️❤️❤️
Brave women peacefully protesting in the US Capital rotunda today.
They are handcuffed & lined up so as to silence their voices – a metaphor for how the majority of Americans feel under this administration. #BelieveSurvivors#VoteBlue
???????? pic.twitter.com/Ch9gFJVrmX
— Kristi ??⚖️? (@KHagenJohnson) September 24, 2018
Members of Kavanaugh’s alma mater, Yale Law School, protested against his nomination and called for an investigation of the allegations against him:
Hundreds of Yale Law students are demanding a full, fair and impartial investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against Supreme Court nominee and Yale alumnus Brett Kavanaugh in the wake of new allegations brought by a second woman.
The elite New Haven law school canceled 31 classes on Monday to help facilitate protests that saw students pack the halls and speak out against abusers and those who silence victims. In the nation’s capital, a bus carried additional students to the Supreme Court and Senate buildings to demonstrate.
Thus far, Kavanaugh is refusing to withdraw, we will see what the week brings. KZ
Nationwide Walkout Supports Kavanaugh Accusers: ‘Women Must Be Heard’
At 1 p.m. on Monday, people are being urged to wear black and to walk out of their homes, offices and classrooms.
Women’s rights organizations are urging people to take part in a national walkout on Monday to show support for the two women who have publicly accused Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court pick, of sexual assault.
“We believe Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. We believe Deborah Ramirez,” wrote abortion rights advocacy group NARAL on Twitter, referring to the two Kavanaugh accusers by name.
“Survivors must be heard,” the anti-sexual harassment organization Time’s Up tweeted on Sunday, urging people to take part in the protest.
It’s obvious that the GOP has been fast-tracking Kavanaugh’s confirmation to put [another] accused sexual abuser on SCOTUS—and further their anti-woman agenda.
We #BelieveSurvivors, and we will NOT stay silent. Wear black and walk out TOMORROW at 1pm ET: https://t.co/K6e7haObSZ pic.twitter.com/DW006DTPTd
— NARAL (@NARAL) September 24, 2018
Survivors must be heard. Wear black and join the national walkout on Monday, Sept. 24 at 1 pm ET/10 am PT in solidarity with Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. https://t.co/XcLucrziMJ #BelieveSurvivors #TIMESUP pic.twitter.com/s3RQY40Mf5
— TIME’S UP (@TIMESUPNOW) September 23, 2018
The #BelieveSurvivors national walkout will take place on Monday at 1 p.m.
Groups co-sponsoring the protest, including NARAL, YWCA, Planned Parenthood Action and Women’s March, have called on people to wear black and to walk out of their homes, offices or classrooms at that time as a sign of solidarity for Ford and Ramirez.
Ford, a 51-year-old psychology professor, has accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were both teenagers. She claims a “stumbling drunk” Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed, groped her, attempted to take off her clothes and clamped his hand over her mouth to silence her.
“I thought he might inadvertently kill me,” Ford told The Washington Post last week. She has agreed to testify on Thursday before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
On Sunday, Ramirez, a 53-year-old former Yale classmate of Kavanaugh’s, went public with her own accusation of sexual misconduct. She told The New Yorker that Kavanaugh exposed himself at a college party and thrust his penis in her face, which she said she inadvertently touched while attempting to push him away.
“Brett was laughing,” Ramirez recalled. “I can still see his face, and his hips coming forward, like when you pull up your pants.”
The Trump administration, as well as many leading Republican lawmakers, have cast aspersions at both women and their allegations.
The president, who has himself been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women, attacked Ford on Twitter last week.
The White House has dismissed Ramirez’s allegations as being part of a “coordinated smear campaign.”
Kavanaugh has categorically denied both accusations.
Several rights groups have called for the suspension of Kavanaugh’s confirmation process or the withdrawal of his nomination.
The Senate Judiciary Committee must suspend their confirmation process. Anyone who objects to a delay is discounting the safety and dignity of women in favor of a political agenda. We demand and deserve better.
— TIME’S UP (@TIMESUPNOW) September 24, 2018
We believe Dr. Christine Blasey Ford — and we believe Deborah Ramirez.
Brett Kavanaugh has absolutely no business sitting on the Supreme Court and his nomination must be withdrawn immediately.#BelieveSurvivors #StopKavanaugh https://t.co/XMbPCbVhqo
— Planned Parenthood Action (@PPact) September 24, 2018
It is past time for Kavanaugh to withdraw.
The Republicans who have championed him will pay in November. You don’t get to be a rape apologist and stay in office. Not on our watch. #CancelKavanaugh
— Women’s March (@womensmarch) September 24, 2018
To find out more about Monday’s national walkout, visit the Facebook event page.
Need help? Visit RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s website.