The following statement can be attributed to Dina Bakst and Sherry Leiwant, Co-Founders and Co-Presidents of A Better Balance:
Tonight’s confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett is a disgrace. It undermines the significance of the Supreme Court as an institution and disrespects Justice Ginsburg’s legacy. As the pandemic rages on, and millions of families struggle to make ends meet, the Senate chose to confirm an extremist and dangerous judge with a heartless disdain for this country’s most vulnerable and marginalized people rather than pass a COVID relief package.
Judge Barrett’s record has made clear that she is opposed to the rights of working people and unsympathetic to the needs of their families. Joined by 95 other advocacy groups, we spearheaded a letter to the Senate opposing Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation as a threat to workers’ fundamental rights that enable them to care for themselves and their loved ones. As we said in the letter, being a successful woman and mother does not make Judge Barrett an appropriate successor to Justice Ginsburg.
With this confirmation, the Affordable Care Act, abortion rights, LGBTQ rights, and voting rights are now in grave jeopardy. Cases that were closely decided that guarantee protections for pregnant workers and workers in need of leave could also be in jeopardy if those issues are considered before the Supreme Court again in the future.
From start to finish, this confirmation process has been utterly illegitimate. We urge all who care about justice, fairness, equality, and upholding the integrity of our institutions to vote. We must make our voices heard loud and clear. We must vote against those who stand for racism, bigotry, and corporate interests over workers’ health and safety. Our nation’s future depends on it.
