Groups Represent Tens Of Millions Of Americans
Today, End Citizens United (ECU) and some of the largest grassroots groups in the country joined together to launch “The People’s Defense,” a massive grassroots campaign with actions planned in all 50 states to defeat Neil Gorsuch’s nomination to the Supreme Court.
Also joining the campaign, which has been organized by NARAL Pro-Choice America, American Federation of Teachers, Center for American Progress Action Fund, CREDO Action, Every Voice, Indivisible, MoveOn.org, Civic Action, People for the American Way, Service Employees International Union, and Stand Up America.
The People’s Defense will have a dedicated full-time staff and act as a hub of action to leverage the expertise and reach of national and state organizations in opposition to Neil Gorsuch. The People’s Defense will harness the unprecedented grassroots activism that has developed in response to the Trump administration’s dangerous agenda and direct these assets to oppose any nominee to the Supreme Court who cannot be an independent check on President Trump’s reckless actions.
Judge Gorsuch’s record on money in politics indicates that if he were confirmed we would have more unlimited and undisclosed spending in our elections, allowing Big Money to expand its undue and out-sized influence on our democracy and further eroding the ability of American families to have their voices heard.
The campaign will build on the huge display of grassroots power fueling resistance movements across the nation, including the Women’s March, the airport protests, and actions that have flooded town halls and congressional phone lines.
Tiffany Muller, Executive Director, End Citizens United:
“Our democracy won’t work if all our citizens don’t have an equal voice. Yet, Judge Gorsuch’s confirmation would mean more money in our elections and more influence for corporate special interests. He believes corporations are people and has prioritized their rights over those of everyday Americans. End Citizens United and The People’s Defense are standing up for the majority of Americans who don’t want an out-of-touch Court to give special interests even more control of our elections.”
Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America:
“We’re hearing increasing anxiety and energy from our members all over the country about a Supreme Court nominee who was handpicked by President Trump. Judge Gorsuch seems poised to fulfill Trump’s campaign promise to overturn Roe v. Wade, give a pass to giant corporations at the expense of working people, and enshrine an extreme and unconstitutional agenda with a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court. These voices—along with the millions of other Americans represented by our allied organizations—must be heard in this process. Senators should listen carefully. Nothing less than the independence of our nation’s highest court is at stake in this fight.”
David Donnelly, president and CEO of Every Voice:
“Time and time again, Neil Gorsuch has sided with the wealthy and powerful at the expense of everyday people. Americans need and deserve a Supreme Court that will act as the last line of defense from wealthy special interests and unaccountable politicians, not another advocate for corporate special interests or a rubber stamp for Trump’s increasingly special-interest dominated administration.”
Mary Kay Henry, international president of Service Employees International Union:
“Putting Judge Gorsuch on the Supreme Court would be a step backwards for every American who wants a good job, the opportunity for a better life for their family, and a real voice in our economy and democracy. Working people could lose the ability to join together at work and have a voice in a union. Grandparents who fought for the right to vote could see that sacred right taken away. Women could find it more difficult to access necessary reproductive healthcare. Judge Gorsuch’s record does not demonstrate the depth of commitment to these people, our values or the belief that the Constitution protects all of us that we must demand of any nominee. That is why SEIU members are speaking up, standing up and rising up to reject this nomination.”
Michele Jawando, vice president of Legal Progress at the Center for American Progress Action Fund:
“Judge Neil Gorsuch does not reflect the values that Americans need in a Supreme Court justice. As a judge, he consistently sides with big business over American workers and consumers. For these and many more reasons, CAPAF is proud to be partnering with NARAL and this coalition of organizations in this effort to ensure that the next Supreme Court justice represents the American people, not just the wealthy and powerful.”
Marge Baker, executive vice president of People For the American Way:
“Neil Gorsuch believes it should be easier for Wall Street to get away with defrauding its customers and harder for ordinary Americans to have their day in court. He’s sided against women fighting harassment and discrimination, against parents fighting for fair treatment for their disabled children, and against workers being killed and injured on the job. Now Donald Trump wants him to have a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court. That would be devastating to anyone who cares about protecting our core constitutional values.”
Murshed Zaheed, political director of CREDO:
“Senate Democrats are the only firewall we have against a Trump court. Senate Democrats face a very clear choice: Hand the Supreme Court over to a racist, sexist, authoritarian or fight for the people most threatened by Trump’s dangerous agenda. A Democratic vote to turn the Supreme Court over to Donald Trump and extremist Republicans would be a vote against women, people of color, Muslims, immigrants, workers and the environment. With Roe v. Wade hanging in the balance any Democrat who votes to advance Gorsuch’s nomination will permanently damage his or her political career, just like Sec. Clinton did when she voted for the Iraq war.”
Jessica Adair, director of partnerships of Stand Up America:
“The last thing we need right now is another voice for corporations over workers on the Supreme Court. Stand Up America is a grassroots community of more than a million Americans who are resisting Trump’s dangerous agenda—and that includes his nominee to the Supreme Court. Our members have already made thousands of phone calls to their senators to oppose Gorsuch, and we’re proud to be partnering with other grassroots organizations to defeat his nomination.”
Randi Weingarten, president of American Federation of Teachers:
“Judge Gorsuch’s record raises serious doubts that he will put the American people first. In Neil Gorsuch, President Trump has nominated an extremist judge who favors corporations over working class Americans and consumers. More than ever, we need an independent judiciary that will uphold our American values and our democracy, as Trump has already acted in ways that rip up our Constitution and roll back our rights. For senators who wouldn’t give Merrick Garland a fair hearing, we will hold them accountable if they confirm a justice whose allegiance is to corporations and President Trump.”
Anna Galland, executive director of MoveOn.org Civic Action:
“An independent judiciary remains a cornerstone of American democracy, and it’s critical that the Supreme Court remains an independent check on Donald Trump’s power. The coming fight over Trump’s nominee, Neil Gorsuch, will be a choice point for all Democrats: Will they allow Trump’s policies of destruction and division to be pursued for one term, or will they be preserved into our nation’s legal system for a lifetime? MoveOn members have been clear: Until Trump begins to abide by the Constitution, senators should refuse to seat any Trump nominee. And they should never confirm someone like Gorsuch, who has repeatedly shown bias in favor of big corporations and powerful interests, denying ordinary Americans the fair hearing in our courts that they deserve.”