As the Senate Judiciary Committee begins the hearing for Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court, Advocates for Youth continues to stand in opposition to this nominee. This nomination is just another capitulation to the far-right fringe that has hijacked our judicial system — where it seeks to cement the Trump administration’s persecution of women, people of color, and LGBTQ people.

During this week’s hearing, we remind the Senate that the stakes of this nomination are extraordinarily high. The Supreme Court will make decisions that affect abortion access, health care access, immigrant justice, and the opportunities for people to be financially stable and leave free, safe, and healthy lives. If confirmed, we know that Judge Kavanaugh will turn the balance of the Court conservative – he has ruled in past cases to restrict access to abortion and has argued that a boss’s religious views should override an individual’s right to insurance coverage for birth control. Kavanaugh is sure to attempt to overturn Roe v. Wade and uphold the regressive anti-women and anti-LGBTQ beliefs championed by this administration.

Since the announcement of Brett Kavanaugh as the Supreme Court nominee, Advocates for Youth and young people across the country have been organizing to stop the confirmation. In the past month:

• Abortion storytellers from Alaska, Maine, West Virginia and Indiana flew to Washington, DC for the Speak Out to #SaveRoe rally and to meet with their Senators to share their own stories and deliver 1000’s of other people’s abortion stories in order to elevate what is at stake for abortion access with Kavanaugh’s appointment.
• Over 600 people across the country virtually shared their abortion story directly to their Senators through the #DearSenators campaign.
• Over 100 women of color reproductive rights activists gathered at Senate offices and engaged in direct action efforts to protest Brett Kavanaugh, citing the the dangers to communities of color, if confirmed.
• Hundreds of young people signed onto a statement directed at the Senate that illustrated the negative impact Kavanaugh’s appointment would have on young people.
• DC-based youth activists have demanded meetings with key Senators through the #MeetWithUs campaign, where they have collectively made 100 meeting requests and have gone nearly every day the Senate has been in session since Kavanaugh’s nomination to make their voices heard.

Young people want to move this country forward, not backwards, and they are looking to their Senators to represent their interests and reject this nominee.