Senate Must Reject Nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to SCOTUS
Washington, D.C. | www.adc.org | July 10, 2018 - The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) calls on the
United States Senate to reject President Donald Trump’s nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to serve on the United
States Supreme Court. Throughout his career, Kavanaugh has proven to have little regard for civil rights, women’s
rights, and privacy rights. His nomination to the Supreme Court is extremely concerning and his appointment threatens to
undermine the Constitution.
Kavanaugh poses a direct threat to the protections and rights afforded to Arabs, Muslims, women and communities of color
in the U.S. Kavanaugh has taken an expansive approach to presidential power and the justification of national security
to limit the rights of U.S. Citizens. Through his judicial record, Kavanaugh has affirmed his position that civil rights
can be impeded, and the Constitution tossed aside when basic national security interests or special needs arise; his
interpretation of this principle is dangerously open. In Klayman v. Obama, Kavanaugh supported the bulk collection of
U.S. Citizens’ personal cellphone data without a warrant by stating that the Government was trying to “prevent[]
terrorist attacks.” Arabs and Muslims in America have long seen the justification of national security used to
marginalize, target, and persecute their respective communities.
Kavanaugh has taken highly problematic positions on many issues, including women’s health, the Affordable Care Act, and
voting rights. Kavanaugh opposes women’s right to choose and has voted against abortion access in the past. While
sitting on the Circuit Court for the District of Columbia, he voted against President Obama’s Affordable Care Act.
Kavanaugh has also voted to uphold state laws that suppress voter rights, and supports campaign financing without
meaningful restriction.
“The law of the land for the next few decades hinges on the filling of this vacant seat,” said Abed Ayoub, ADC Legal
Director. “The rights of all individuals, particularly women and communities of color, will be adversely impacted by
this appointment. The right to vote, to participate in politics, to fight marginalization, and to advance economically
are all threatened by Kavanaugh filling the vacant Supreme Court seat. We call on the U.S. Senate to do what is right
for the country and reject this nomination.”
ADC rejects Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination and commits itself to upholding human rights, civil rights, and the rights of
all people. Whoever fills the next Supreme Court seat will have an enormous impact on all our rights within this
country. The Senate cannot allow Kavanaugh to sit in that seat, knowing how ready and willing he is to erode civil
rights and ignore the Constitution. ADC once again calls upon the U.S. Senate to block Kavanaugh's nomination.
ends