There are three women willing to testify under oath about credible allegations. The GOP continues to refuse to call for an FBI investigation. It is time for Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination to be immediately withdrawn. Enough is enough.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) September 26, 2018
In light of the sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, many Asian Americans continue to speak out against him and speak up in support of the #MeToo movement. Christine Blasey Ford, one of the alleged assault victims, is scheduled to testify in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday (Sept. 27) along with a rebuttal from Kavanaugh.
National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum Executive Director Sung Yeon Choimorrow issued the following statement before the hearing:
“The latest allegations of sexual assault against Kavanaugh paint an even more vivid picture of the kind of vile, misogynistic attitudes he holds toward women and the utter contempt with which he has treated them in the past. What’s worse, the way Kavanaugh and his allies have attempted to defame and shame Christine Blasey Ford, Deborah Ramirez, and now, Julie Swetnick for simply having the courage to speak out speaks volumes about their priorities: they want to confirm Kavanaugh at all costs by continuing the all too familiar and disturbing pattern of silencing victims of sexual violence.
“Asian American and Pacific Islander women have been watching with fear and anger as the confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh have unfolded. Over the past few weeks, we have seen this farce of a confirmation process play out not only through the repeated attempts to discredit the survivors who have come forward and Sen. Lindsay Graham’s insistence that Dr. Ford’s testimony won’t change his vote, but also the Republicans’ decision to rush the vote even while they had knowledge of additional sexual assault allegations. This is especially horrifying to women of color, because we have always been disproportionately affected by gender-based violence. For instance, 21-55 percent of AAPI women have experienced intimate physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime and they often underreport these incidences.
“How can women in this country, especially women of color, feel safe when our elected officials refuse to disavow someone who commits sexual assault? Members of the Senate Judiciary committee, hear us: you have a moral obligation to cancel the vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh.”
Kavanaugh’s stances on women’s reproductive rights, workers’ rights, and affirmative action have already made him an enemy of many, and now with three women accusing him of sexual misconduct, there’s a lot at stake with this nomination.
Hundreds of women lined the Hart Senate Atrium to hold a vigil for #WhatsAtStake. Together, we will #StopKavanaugh @PPact @NARAL @ReproRights @nwlc @APALAnational @TheTaskForce @TransEquality pic.twitter.com/BZ9A3Y64G3
— NAPAWF (@NAPAWF) September 4, 2018
According to NBC, Thai American Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Sen. Dick Durbin presented a letter with 1,433 signatures in support of Ford; those signatures came from men and women who grew up in the same areas as Kavanaugh and Ford.
Other Asian American politicians are making their opinions heard as well.
When Anita Hill told her story, the Senate didn’t listen. Let’s not make the same mistake again – the Senate must give Dr. Christine Blasey Ford the respect she deserves and investigate the serious allegations against #Kavanaugh #PostponeTheVote #BelieveWomen
— Colleen Hanabusa (@RepHanabusa) September 19, 2018
To sum up: for Trump, the significance of the #MeToo movement is men being falsely accused and then being denied important government positions. He has no understanding of or sympathy for women at all.
— Chris Lu (@ChrisLu44) September 26, 2018
As we learn of new sexual assault allegations against Judge Kavanaugh, I’m proud to stand in support of Dr. Ford & her courage to come forward before she testifies tomorrow at the Senate Judiciary Committee. All survivors of sexual assault deserve to be heard. #IBelieveSurvivors pic.twitter.com/3w8jVfURko
— Grace Meng (@RepGraceMeng) September 26, 2018
Those in support of the #MeToo movement are afraid that if Kavanaugh is found not guilty of the allegations, sexual assault victims will be further discouraged from speaking up.
WE. NEED. TO. STOP. SILENCING. WOMEN.
88% of women do not report their assault. If we continue to shame and silence survivors, how can we ever expect our country’s sexual assault epidemic to come to an end?https://t.co/K8F9MGWWUv
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) September 24, 2018
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