Palm Beach County NOW

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

WASHINGTON – Donald Trump Jr. just said that the current debate over sexual assault has made him more worried for his sons than his daughters. Ann Coulter mocked the “snickering at white men” and asserted “there has never been a more pacific, less rapey creature than the white male of Western European descent.” Of course, there’s the current sexual assaulter who occupies the White House who surrounds himself with men who disrespect and abuse women. And then there are the women staff members who make excuses and defend these predators.

Famous media personalities like Bill Cosby have committed the most horrific attacks on women and abused their power and privilege. The Catholic Church’s shameful history of obstructing justice for survivors of sexual assault is revealed with increasingly damning detail. Add to that Jewish and Southern Baptist leaders assaulting their parishioners and condoning domestic violence by the men who practice their religion. And men on campuses who attack women and call the women perpetrators when they speak their truth, just like the dean at Catholic University has.

All this feeds into the current debate over Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, and Lindsey Graham, among others, are betting they can mobilize a party of angry white men to rally behind one of their own. They seek to perpetuate a toxic culture of male fury designed to hold women back and hold on to power.

Today, Senator Susan Collins and Senator Lisa Murkowski- along with the male Senators who proclaim their good will toward women- have an important decision to make, one that will either prop up the toxic male culture or begin to tear it down. Women everywhere – from inside elevators to around the kitchen table – will continue speaking truth to power. And those in power need to listen.

The Senate must vote against Brett Kavanaugh. And we must continue to challenge the culture of toxic masculinity and white privilege that produced his nomination.

Enough is enough.

Contact:

Brittany T. Oliver, comms@now.org, 202-628-8669

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

WASHINGTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee has voted to send Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Senate floor, just hours after Kavanaugh’s appalling testimony. His lies, political attacks and aggressive, bullying behavior underlined just how unfit he is to serve on any judicial bench.

At the last minute, Senator Jeff Flake has joined the call for an FBI investigation of the charges against Brett Kavanaugh, and to delay a floor vote for a week while this takes place. But this won’t happen unless Donald Trump agrees.

NOW calls on Mitch McConnell to endorse Senator Flake’s initiative and to ask the White House to begin an FBI investigation.

Brett Kavanaugh’s lack of judicial temperament was on display for all to see during yesterday’s hearing. But what we didn’t see, or hear, were the facts behind the charges made by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, Deborah Ramirez, and Julie Swetnick.

We need to hear from Mark Judge and other witnesses with essential knowledge that the Senate has so far ignored. We need the truth. We need the facts. Only the FBI can provide them.

Enough is enough.

Contact

Brittany T. Oliver, comms@now.org, 202-628-8669

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

WASHINGTON — Dr. Christine Blasey Ford did the nation a profound service with her brave, compelling and honest testimony today. No one will ever forget her recollection of the way Brett Kavanaugh and Mark Judge laughed at victimizing and terrorizing a 15-year old girl.

The contrast with Brett Kavanaugh’s smug, imperious and contrived image as a misunderstood choir boy could not have been more stark—or more disturbing. While Dr. Blasey Ford showed thoughtfulness in her answers, Kavanaugh showed blatant disrespect – especially to the female senators, whom he frequently interrupted. Brett Kavanaugh not only showed no remorse for his actions but no understanding of their consequences. He politicized the hearing and parroted Donald Trump’s attack lines. But he still refused to call for an FBI investigation or to call additional witnesses like Mark Judge.

Brett Kavanaugh is demonstrably unfit to be on the Supreme Court. He was unfit BEFORE the allegations of sexual assault and continues to be unfit today. In addition, he is equally unfit to continue to serve on the U.S. District Court of Appeals. Brett Kavanaugh should withdraw his nomination and step down from the federal bench. Enough is enough.

Contact

Brittany T. Oliver, comms@now.org, 202-628-8669