[Atlanta, GA] - Statement by Monica Simpson, Executive Director of SisterSong, the national women of color Reproductive Justice collective on the vote in the United States Senate today to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court:
"In spite of the huge public outcry in the streets throughout this nation and in the halls of Congress, in spite of the thousands of survivors coming out to stand with Dr. Christine Blasey Ford to demand that lawmakers believe, listen to and respect the needs of survivors by refusing to nominate another sexual predator to the highest court in the land, and in spite of the fact that Brett Kavanaugh's record shows a reckless disregard for the health and rights of women, the Senate just voted to confirm his nomination.
I feel knocked down. Years ago, I watched as Anita Hill put her pain on display and was pushed aside. And last week, I sat transfixed and weeping watching Dr. Christine Blasey Ford sharing her story and making clear her fear that she would risk so much and have it be ignored.
For weeks
survivors have laid bare
some of the worst moments of their lives to try to influence with political power who clearly no regard to the pain and trauma they have endured. The pain that so many women have endured. As a survivor, I know this moment feels like we don't matter. But please, do not give into this feeling. I hear you and see you and believe you. And we at SisterSong will always fight for you.
Today do what you must do for yourselves. Cry and rage. Spend time with loved ones. Drink tea or be on your own. Do what it will take for you to be with me and be with us as we keep on fighting! We CAN NOT hang our heads in defeat. We must keep speaking out and organizing and rallying.
I have seen people talk about taking the country back, but as Black women we know this country and this government were never meant to serve or respect or protect us. We have to protect ourselves. And that is what we have always done and will continue to do.
We will keep speaking truth to power and when they won't listen, we will take that power back. We will get out and vote and we will help others to get to the polls on November 6th. We will raise money and give time to candidates who believe in and are there for Black women, our families and our communities.
We will tear down systems of oppression and strive to dismantle white supremacy. We won't just work within the systems, we will change them! We will tell our stories and live our truths. We will educate, agitate and organize. We will shut things down and build up ourselves and our communities. We will do what Black women have always done - we will lead the way and we will DEMAND - not ask for our bodies and our lives to be respected and safe."
