Women’s Group: Kavanaugh Should Be Scrutinized, Not Ford
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, September 17, 2018
CONTACT: Brett Abrams | brett@unbendablemedia.com
Women’s Group: Kavanaugh Should Be Scrutinized, Not Ford
UltraViolet: If You Believe Survivors of Sexual Assault, Ford Has No Reason to Testify
WASHINGTON DC — Moments ago, it was reported that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her would testify publicly on Monday.
This weekend, The Washington Post published a piece in which Christine Blasey Ford, the writer of the confidential letter accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault back in high school, came forward to speak out about her story. In the piece, Ford described how Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed on her back and groped her over her clothes, and that when she tried to scream, Kavanaugh put his hand over her mouth.
In reaction to the news, Shaunna Thomas, Executive Director and Co-founder of UltraViolet, a leading national women’s group, issued the following statement, expressing support for Ford and calling on Kavanaugh to withdraw his nomination for the Supreme Court:
“We believe women and we believe Christine Blasey Ford.“Ford has demonstrated tremendous courage in coming forward and sharing her story of how Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her.“If we believe Ford’s story that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her, then there is no reason for a public hearing that puts Ford in the spotlight.Senators should be publicly opposing Kavanaugh and calling for him to withdraw his nomination.“We will not sit by and let Republicans use this hearing to attack, undermine and shame Ford. The Senate must recognize that investigations and public hearings are systemically stacked against survivors of sexual assault – in this case, shifting the burden from Kavanaugh, who has already lied to the Senate, to Ford, who has no reason to lie.“Simply put: violence against women should have no place in our society and it certainly should have no place on the highest court in the nation.. Senators should be publicly announcing their opposition to Kavanaugh, and he should withdraw his nomination immediately. ”
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UltraViolet is an online community of over 1,000,000 women and men who want to take collective action to expose and fight sexism in the public sector, private sector and the media. Find out more at WeAreUltraViolet.org.