AFSCME urges Senate to heed the will of the people and reject Coney Barrett

WASHINGTON — AFSCME President Lee Saunders issued this statement following the sham hearings to rush through Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s seat on the U.S. Supreme Court:

“Judge Amy Coney Barrett failed to demonstrate that she will be a fair-minded justice who will protect the rights and freedoms of everyone, not just the wealthy and the privileged few. Instead, she will further tilt the court against working people, using her extreme judicial views to do the bidding of corporations and ideological special interests. With Judge Coney Barrett on the court, critical health care protections, voting rights, workers’ rights and LGBTQ rights, among others, will be on the chopping block.  

“It’s unconscionable that Mitch McConnell and his caucus have disregarded the suffering of millions of Americans, refusing for months to pass COVID aid, while steamrolling this nominee through the process in order to rip away health care and protections for preexisting conditions from millions of Americans during a pandemic.

“AFSCME is working up and down the ballot to hold President Donald Trump, McConnell and their allies in the Senate accountable. The Senate should not confirm Judge Coney Barrett. It should heed the will of the American people in the election that’s happening right now, and allow the winner of the presidential race to nominate Justice Ginsburg’s successor early next year.”