The Democratic National Committee's Save the Court Campaign marked the Supreme Court's opening with a rally and press conference on Monday, October 4. The event was packed with supporters, who gathered by the Court's steps to make it clear: with this presidential election, the Supreme Court is on the ballot.
"Supreme Court Justices are appointed for life. If George W. Bush is re-elected, America won't be headed in the wrong direction for just four more years, we will be headed in the wrong direction for generations to come," DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe said during the rally.
McAuliffe was joined by Kate Michelman, Campaign to Save the Court Chair, former EPA Chief Carol Browner, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, AFSCME President Gerald McEntee, National Organization of Women President Kim Gandy, and NARAL Pro-Choice America Interim President Elizabeth Cavendish. Each participant stressed that John Kerry will appoint Justices who will respect the rights and liberties of all Americans.
"John Kerry's vision for the Court embraces balance and fairness," said Michelman. "His justices would deliver on the promise of equal justice under law." Click here to hear audio clips from the press conference.
Taking It On The Road
Pennsylvania is the next stop on the Save the Court National Tour. This week, Campaign Chair Kate Michelman will speak at several events in Philadelphia.
Next week, Michelman will visit Florida, where she'll speak at Miami University Law School for National Coming Out Day in support of GLBT rights.
The rights of gay & lesbian Americans are at particular risk if George W. Bush is given the opportunity to appoint Supreme Court justices.
An Important Film Is Being Shown:
Narrated by Kathleen Turner, the film features Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton; Deb Callahan of The League of Conservation Voters; DNC General Election Strategist Teresa Vilmain; Becky Ogle, the DNC's senior advisor on disability outreach; Vincent Fry, executive director of the DNC's Voting Rights Institute; and Save the Court Campaign Chair Kate Michelman, who shared personal stories on how these issues affected their lives, and what could be at stake if George W. Bush appoints any Supreme Court justices.
Donate today and share the film with everyone you know. You may also view the film online by
clicking here.
Workers' Rights And The Supreme Court
What does the future hold for worker's rights if George W. Bush returns to the White House? A glimpse of the wrong direction George W. Bush wants to take us in:
The Supreme Court's conservative Justices have demonstrated extreme hostility towards American workers. They consistently side with big business, turning their backs on working families. A Court with even more conservative Justices would worsen the problem, dealing severe blows to these hard won protections:
* Collective bargaining and the right to strike* Protections for whistleblowers* The rights of employees to sue for back pay for employer labor law violations
One of Bush's nominees to the appellate courts said she believes Social Security is unconstitutional. If more Justices like her are appointed to the Court, they would devastate the federal government's protections for workers, retirees and their families.
Another conservative Justice on the Supreme Court could severely weaken workplace protections, such as the Family and Medical Leave Act.
A more conservative Court could make it much harder for victims of workplace sexual harassment to gain justice through the courts. It would also make proving race, gender, age and disability discrimination far more difficult. Click here to view more of What's at Stake.
Be The Eyes And Ears Of The DNC
If you hear of any court-related events in your area that they should know about, please call them at 202-863-8156 or email
savethecourt@dnc.org.
Words To The Wise
"Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph." - Haile Selassie
