On the evening of July 9th, Trump announced his long-anticipated nomination for the empty seat on the U.S. Supreme Court: Judge Brett Kavanaugh, a former clerk to now-retired justice Kennedy. Only 53 years of age, if appointed, the conservative elect could reshape the face of reproductive rights for generations to come—in particular, the right to choose if and when to have children.
Since his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump has promised to overturn Roe v Wade by ensuring pro-life justices were placed in the Supreme Court. According to the National Women’s Law Center, Kavanaugh has a history of abusing reproductive justice, including but not limited to his ruling against Jane Doe, a young undocumented immigrant women who was in need of abortion care, and his vocal beliefs against birth control coverage for employees. If he is appointed as justice, access to safe and legal abortion in the United States is at stake. That, in turn, puts the fundamental right to healthcare and economic stability on the line.
Though it will take months for the Senate to come to a decision on Kavanaugh’s nomination, it is our responsibility right now to find ways not only to support reproductive rights organizations, but to protest against the potential life-changing impact a conservative Supreme Court will have on the most vulnerable, and work to uphold the civil rights of all.
In the days and weeks that follow America’s Independence Day last Wednesday, the country continues to beg the question: What does freedom really mean in the USA?
By: Leah Soweid