Sen. Gillibrand: ‘Our Lives Are at Stake’ with Kavanaugh Confirmation

Sen. Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) joined a coalition of left-wing groups at a candlelight vigil on Tuesday in the atrium at the Hart Senate Office Building where the Senate Judiciary Committee is debating the confirmation of Supreme Court justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh, saying “lives are at stake” if he is confirmed.

“I appreciate the fact that you are wearing these t-shirts saying, ‘I am what is at stake’ because that’s true — you are what’s at stake — women all across America have fundamental rights to decide about our futures,” Gillibrand said, adding that President Donald Trump “doesn’t care” about the future of women in the United States.

“We just have to recognize that we are at a moment when all these things matter and that our lives are at stake,” Gillibrand said.

Senate Democrats opposed to Kavanaugh’s confirmation are also using the #WhatsAtStake hashtag on social media and encouraging more of the disruptions Democrats and protesters made at the start of the hearing.

“I urge anyone — woman or man — who is concerned right now to make that clear — loudly and immediately.” #WhatsAtStake, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) tweeted:

Gillibrand retweeted a tweet from the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), which picked up on her “lives are at stake” comment:

Aside from the NWLC, other left-wing groups that took part in the vigil include Planned Parenthood, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the Center for American Progress and the National Center for Transgender Equality.

Gillibrand said she wanted to know what Kavanaugh was “hiding,” referencing the Democrats complaint that documents that could be pivotal in rejecting Kavanaugh are being withheld.

She also said she was “concerned” about what Kavanaugh would do if he is seated on the high court.

“I’m very concerned with the fact that this judge intends to take away women’s rights,” Gillibrand said.

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