Student organizers at Scripps College have planned a protest against the United States Senate’s Saturday decision to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh. The protest, which will take place Tuesday noon at Scripps College, aims to “support survivors and show solidarity with those who are distraught by the Senate’s recent decision,” according to one of the event organizers.
The Facebook event description states that “[this] has been a really devastating time in US Politics. We want to demonstrate our outrage regarding the recent Senate vote approving Brett Kavanaugh to the highest court in America. Meet in front of Malott [dining hall] at noon on Monday to join in protest of the terrible Senate decision. Bring posters and friends! #webelievesurvivors #kavanope.”
Since early Monday morning, organizers have moved the event to Tuesday “[in] recognition of Indigenous People’s Day.”
“We want to deeply apologize for scheduling this event on the same day as the 2nd annual Indigenous People’s Day. Monday is a day for indigenous and non-indigenous allies to stand in solidarity and acknowledge the genocidal mission system that enslaved and killed 807% of Natives living on this land. Additionally, We stand in solidarity with the 5100 missing and murdered indigenous people,” the organizers wrote.
The protest at Scripps will come amid national controversy surrounding Kavanaugh’s past behavior in regards to sexual assault and drinking, as well as perceived partisanship on behalf of the justice during his confirmation hearings.
While previous protests at the Claremont Colleges—an undergraduate consortium consisting of Scripps College, Pomona College, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont McKenna College, and Pitzer College—had involved local and campus police, the organizers assured that “this is going to be a peaceful protest for everyone. We also want to remind everyone that we hope for this to be an inclusive event for people of all races, backgrounds, and gender identities.”
“Please also keep in mind that we are planning for this to be as safe of a place as possible,” she added.
Another organizer stated that “[we] fully recognize that this event can be triggering as well as exhausting for survivors. We would love to have as much support as possible, but we understand that this event may be too difficult for some to attend. Please take care of yourself and your own needs first.”
A junior at Pomona College—the flagship member of the Claremont Colleges—told the Independent on the condition of anonymity that “it’s important that the school had a peaceful, local, and in that sense accessible protest for a national issue.”
Kavanaugh’s controversial nomination and confirmation was widely protested across the country, including at the Supreme Court and Capitol Hill.