As more and more information comes out about the shady, misogynistic past of Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, the more America is outraged that the president and the GOP are hell-bent on getting this guy into the Supreme Court.
Several more women have followed Christine Blasey Ford in accusing Kavanaugh of violating them over the last few days, and Trump has responded by continuing to defend Kavanaugh and attacking his accusers. One of Trump’s accusers happens to be Yale alumna Deborah Ramirez, who came forward in a New Yorker story as she stated that Kavanaugh had exposed himself to her at a college party. Now, Yale Law School students are standing behind her and other accusers.
On Monday morning, students of the law school protested by dressing in black, not going to class, and sitting in the hallways in support of an investigation to look into the sexual misconduct allegations against Kavanaugh, who is also a Yale undergrad and law school alumnus.
Yale students holding a sit in this morning in the Law School building are seeking an investigation of sexual misconduct allegations against SCOTUS nominee Brett Kavanaugh, including one while he was a Yale student pic.twitter.com/hC898TVEsr
— Rebecca Lurye (@RebeccaLurye) September 24, 2018
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Students dressed in black are sitting silently in the law school building, filling the hallway pic.twitter.com/SEE4Q7BpVy
— Rebecca Lurye (@RebeccaLurye) September 24, 2018
Anita Hill’s story especially relevant in New Haven, which is about a third black, speakers say. “Anita Hill, as a woman of color, as a black woman was not believed not just because of her gender but because of her race. These intersectionality concerns can not be erased today” pic.twitter.com/ugFFieHyqQ
— Rebecca Lurye (@RebeccaLurye) September 24, 2018
WATCH: Dozens of students sit in silence, wearing black demanding thorough look into accusations against Yale alumnus and Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. 31 law school classes have been cancelled today in light of protest. #nbcct pic.twitter.com/yCthpadhuj
— Shannon Miller (@_ShannonMiller) September 24, 2018
Due to the protest, 31 classes have been canceled. Later today, alumni like Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Sen. Chris Coons (D-Delaware), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and “more than 100 Yale Law School (YLS) students will host a press conference” at the Russell Senate Office Building. The press release says:
Student speakers at the event, some of whom identify as survivors of sexual violence, will urge the Senate to delay the confirmation vote in order to afford Dr. Blasey Ford and Debbie Ramirez the fair process that every survivor deserves. The press conference will also include remarks from students who will share stories regarding the ways in which judicial decisions on sexual violence, abortion, LGBT rights, and healthcare could affect them personally.”
These student protests follow the lead of dozens of faculty members at Yale, who have asked the Senate Judiciary Committee to delay Kavanaugh’s confirmation. They wrote:
With so much at stake for the Supreme Court and the nation, we are concerned about a rush to judgment that threatens both the integrity of the process and the public’s confidence in the Court. Where, as here, a sexual assault has been alleged against an individual nominated for a lifetime appointment in a position of public trust, a partisan hearing alone cannot be the forum to determine the truth of the matter.
Allegations of sexual assault require a neutral factfinder and an investigation that can ascertain facts fairly. Those at the FBI or others tasked with such an investigation must have adequate time to investigate facts. Fair process requires evidence from all parties with direct knowledge and consultation of experts when evaluating such evidence. In subsequent hearings, all of those who testify, and particularly women testifying about sexual assault, must be treated with respect.”
The faculty members warned that Kavanaugh’s appointment “will yield a deciding vote on women’s rights and myriad other questions of immense consequence in American lives.”
What Yale’s students and faculty members are doing is exactly the thing that Trump fears. As the student protests are going viral on Twitter, more Americans are going to support Kavanaugh’s delay. For Trump, that would be a nightmare.
Featured image via screen capture
