Alamedans gather to send message to U.S. senators

Local activists, concerned constituents and community leaders gathered at City Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 3, to send senators Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein a clear message: Vote “no” on Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination. The activists cited that his “hostility toward women and lack of credibility make him unfit to serve a lifetime appointment on the Supreme Court.” 

Protestors also brought to attention his record against women’s health and workplace protections, sexual assault allegations against him and the anger he displayed to female U.S. senators.

“The vigil was a success,” said Lynn LaRocca of All Rise Alameda who helped organize the event. “There was amazing solidarity and community spirit of all genders and races and creeds there who came together, as Alameda always does.” The group sang and shared stories. 

About 75 local residents, men and women equally, came out to City Hall to share their own stories of sexual violence and to speak out against the confirmation of Kavanaugh. Alameda resident Rosemary Jordan spoke about why men need to come forward, support the movement and believe women and the survivors of sexual assault and violence. 

“[Men] need to be part of this conversation!” Jordan told the crowd. She invited five volunteers to come forward and hold signs of the five U.S. Senators’ names and office numbers, each of a different state, who were uncommitted in their support against the Kavanaugh confirmation at the time of the vigil.

A father of school-aged children in Alameda schools came forward to speak about his own experience with sexual assault when he was a young child and how it affected him. “This is why I support the #BelieveWomen movement,” he said.

The vigil was sponsored by local Alameda community groups that included: American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) People Power — Alameda, All Rise Alameda, Alameda Nasty Women and Solidarity Sundays Bay Area. National partners included the ACLU, Center for Popular Democracy Action, CREDO, Indivisible, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Mom’s Rising, MoveOn, NARAL, National Women’s Law Center, Planned Parenthood and UltraViolet.

Organizers also planned a Black Friday walkout last Friday, Oct. 5, in response to the Senate’s anticipated Friday Cloture vote. They say they will also organize Alameda women and other groups to action should the Senate vote to confirm Kavanaugh.

Kavanaugh was sworn in Saturday, Oct. 6. 

His opposition plans to show the country that women will hold Republicans accountable for the appointment on Tuesday, Nov. 6.