Women's Rights Orgs Object to Kavanaugh

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Women's rights advocates rallied in the rain Wednesday in opposition to Judge Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court, saying he had a discouraging track record on issues that matter to women.

Standing outside the Supreme Court for more than an hour in periods of rain, the demonstrators chanted for equal pay and the protection of women's rights. Some clutched signs that read "Kava-nah" as speakers expressed their disapproval of Kavanaugh's record on equal pay, abortion rights and other issues.

Lilly Ledbetter, whose fight to close the pay gap between women's and men's wages led to the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, said that voting for Kavanaugh's confirmation would be "a vote against equal pay."

"It's time to stand with working men and women and vote 'no' on Judge Kavanaugh," she said.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., appealed to the supporters to reach out to their friends and demand that their senators vote "no."

"We need our senators to stand up and vote 'no' against this judge, 'cause he is going to harm this country and he is going to harm women," she said.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., also criticized Kavanaugh's nomination by President Donald Trump in light of the criminal case against former Trump attorney Michael Cohen. In pleading guilty to campaign finance charges, Cohen said he acted on Trump's behest when he arranged hush money for two women who allege sexual encounters with the president.

"If Brett Kavanaugh is confirmed, if his nomination is rushed through, it will be forever a stain on this court," Blumenthal said, and added: "It will taint every decision of the Supreme Court."

Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing is scheduled to begin Sept. 4.

(KA)