WV Groups Protest SCOTUS Nominee, Urge Senate to Refocus on COVID Relief
Click to download
By Diane Bernard, Public News Service - WV - Producer, Contact
October 27, 2020CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- On the day of the confirmation vote of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, a coalition of West Virginia groups protested in Charleston against Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito's support of the nominee. They say the senator should be focused on COVID-19 relief instead.
With many demonstrators dressed in bright red outfits from the TV show "A Handmaid's Tale," speakers at Monday's lively rally said appointing Barrett, a known conservative, would reverse years of progress on equal rights for women. Gary Zuckett, executive director at the West Virginia Citizen Action group, said Capito and the Senate needed to pass a COVID-19 relief package rather than pushing through a Court nominee.
"Instead of passing COVID relief for people in West Virginia and across the nation that are hurting, that are in danger of losing their homes, that are food insecure that are getting their utilities turned off; instead of doing that, they're packing the Supreme Court," Zuckett said.
Capito's office did not respond to a request for comment by air time. On her web site, the senator confirms her support for Barrett, noting the judge has impressive legal knowledge and a high rating from the nonpartisan American Bar Association.
Members of the coalition, including the Kanawha Valley National Organization of Women and the West Virginia Citizens Action Group, spoke out against what they called "backwards" priorities of the Senate. And Katonya Hart, vice president at the West Virginia NAACP, encouraged those assembled to take action for change.
"It's important for you to do something," Hart said. "You must vote because your life does depend on it. Please, take the time to take action. There is something out there for you to do."
Eighty percent of Americans polled support a new COVID-19 relief package, according to a new report by researchers from schools including Harvard and Rutgers Universities. This runs across party lines, with 88% of Democrats and 75% of Republicans in support.
