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BWHI Statement on Nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court

BWHI Urges Supporters to Express Opposition of Supreme Court Nominee

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 10, 2018) — Today, the Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) is speaking out to oppose President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Federal Appeals Court Judge Brett Kavanaugh, given his conservative and restrictive views on civil rights, safe and legal abortion, and access to birth control. If confirmed, Brett Kavanaugh would solidify a far right majority on the Supreme Court for decades.

The next Supreme Court justice will play a pivotal role in determining whether Black women and all women of color move forward in our journey toward achieving full equality. His nomination could turn back the clock on 50 years of progress this country has made.

Kavanaugh previously worked in the White House counsel’s office under President George W. Bush, helped to draft special counsel Ken Starr’s report urging the impeachment of President Bill Clinton, and clerked for Justice Kennedy.

BWHI president and CEO Linda Goler Blount issued the following statement in response:

BWHI strongly opposes President Trump’s nomination of Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Not only will he be a threat to Roe v. Wade, but he would also threaten access to reproductive health care services generally.”

“Outside the realm of reproductive rights, Black women’s health is, particularly at risk. Kavanaugh has a long record of working against the rights of women, immigrants, workers, students with disabilities, and environmental rights. All of these decisions impact the conditions under which Black women must live, work, and support their families. Kavanaugh would shift the court solidly to the right thus leaving room for more state-sanctioned inequality and discrimination. Research is clear, chronic stress resulting from discrimination negatively impacts Black women’s health outcomes. We have already seen it first hand from conservative decisions like Janus v. AFSCME, where Black women working in the public sector will now have less protections and opportunities to raise their incomes and build wealth. Black women struggle to achieve optimal health when their economic security is at stake.”

“Black women already face enormous barriers and challenges when it comes to our health. The last thing we need is a Supreme Court that could strike down protections for people with pre-existing conditions and otherwise reverse the progress made in access to quality healthcare including access to legal, safe abortion. We have to fight this nomination like our health depends on it because it truly does.”

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The Black Women’s Health Imperative identifies the most pressing health issues that affect the nation’s 21 million Black women and girls and invest in the best of the best strategies, partners, and organizations that share our goal: ensuring Black women live longer, healthier, more prosperous lives. For more information, please call the Black Women’s Health Imperative at (202) 370-3630 or visit bwhi.org. Subscribe to receive the e-newsletter and follow the BWHI on social media using hashtag, #BlkWomensHealth for updates. Find us on Find us on Facebook (Black Women’s Health Imperative), Twitter (@BlkWomensHealth) YouTube (Black Women’s Health Imperative) and Instagram (@BlkWomensHealth).

Media Contact: Antonice Jackson | 202.370.3630 | ajackson@bwhi.org