Where To Protest Kavanaugh's Confirmation In NYC This Weekend
Oct. 6, 2018, 1:49 p.m.
Shortly after the vote is scheduled to begin, New Yorkers will descend on Union Square to voice their disgust over the future justice.
Protesters rallying in front of Trump Tower on Thursday
Judge Brett Kavanaugh is poised to be confirmed to the Supreme Court on Saturday, capping off a contentious and draining confirmation process with an outcome that will likely ensure a conservative majority on the court for a generation.
On Saturday at 5 p.m.—shortly after the final vote is scheduled to begin—New Yorkers will descend on Union Square to voice their disgust over the future justice, and what many see as a sham confirmation that handed a lifetime appointment to a hyper-partisan justice credibly accused of sexual misconduct.
A collection of progressive groups are organizing the rally, including NYC for Abortion Rights, the Democratic Socialists of America, and the International Women's Strike NYC/ Paro Internacional de Mujeres NYC. The same coalition helped plan Monday's protest outside the Yale Club, as well as a sizable demonstration outside Trump Tower on Thursday—when Kavanaugh's confirmation still remained uncertain.
Whereas previous actions were intended as a show of strength against Kavanaugh, organizers say that Saturday's demonstration will be focused on expressing fierce opposition to the reactionary Supreme Court decisions to come.
"As we watch the Senate confirm a man who has perpetrated violence against women, it's important that we send a message to people in power who seek to control our bodies that we'll continue to fight back, whether they're in the Supreme Court or the streets in front of our clinics," Lillian Cicerchia, one of the leaders of NYC for Abortion Rights, told Gothamist on Saturday.
"We want to show people the kind of power and organization and bottom-up grass roots organizing that it's going to take to win full access to abortion, reproductive justice, and universal health care," she continued. "We're not going to sit around watching the confirmation—we're encouraging people to join us and build that strong movement for the fight for our rights."
In addition to Saturday's demonstration, a second protest is scheduled take place Sunday outside The Tank, a non-profit theater on 36th Street near 8th Avenue in Manhattan. The demonstration will feature a "peaceful performance" involving Kesha's "Praying," which participants are invited to show up early to learn, ahead of the 4:45 p.m. demonstration. Those attending are encouraged to wear blue, in solidarity with both Christine Blasey Ford and Anita Hall. There's also an option to participate in the protest virtually via Facebook live.
More details on Saturday's rally here and Sunday's performance/protest here.
