January 30, 2006

Providence – In the wake of Senator Chafee’s announcement that he will not support a filibuster but will vote against the nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court, several Rhode Island organizations had mixed reactions. Senator Chafee joins Senator Reed in opposing Judge Alito, but Senator Reed has indicated he will vote to sustain the filibuster..

The Rhode Island National Organization for Women (RI NOW) applauds Senator Reed for putting more than words into action to support the 500,000 plus women living in Rhode Island. Last week Senator Reed took a principled stand against the nomination of Samuel Alito by indicating his intent to vote no on the nomination. Senator Reed then put the full force of his office behind his words by signaling his intention to support the filibuster of a nominee who will most certainly be opposed to protecting the liberties that women have earned through centuries of struggle.

“This nominee is opposed to women’s rights on every count,” Carolyn Mark, RI NOW Vice President for Membership said. “His record is 20 years long. He was the architect of a plan to overturn Roe v. Wade. He has repeatedly ignored privacy rights. He made it infinitely harder to bring claims of sex discrimination and sexual harassment. Senator Chafee’s decision not to use every tool available to senators to extend debate and ultimately block the nomination of Samuel Alito makes his no vote a hollow vote. RI NOW is very clear on this - a no vote does nothing to protect our liberties and our rights, as women and as Rhode Islanders. The filibuster is our only option and it is every senator’s right to use it. Shrinking from a fight will only weaken us for the next one.”

The RI division of the American Association of University Women was also critical of Senator Chafee. “It appears to the American Association of University Women that Senator Chafee is trying to have it both ways,” said Cathy Speer. “He is voting against confirmation when it is clear his vote won’t matter but will not support a filibuster when it might easily matter. With 56 senators already declaring their support for Judge Alito, what good is Senator Chafee’s opposition to Alito if he will not do what it takes to stop him?”

“This is a critical moment in American history, and Senator Chafee has failed us,” said Donna Fishman of the Rhode Island Coalition for Affirmative Action. “A seat on the Supreme Court is a lifetime appointment. The conservatives now have a lock on this institution, and we can look forward to years of decisions that erode the gains we’ve made on civil rights and social justice over the last three decades. We expected leadership from Senator Chafee. What we got was a political ploy.”

RI Choice Activists had all hoped that because the anniversary of Roe v. Wade is on Sunday the anti-choice activists would cancel their funeral procession to Providence area clinics (which are
closed on Sundays).

No such luck. On Saturday, January 21 they are expecting 100 cars led by the Providence and Cranston police and a hearse containing a white casket to depart from the Broad Street entrance to Roger Williams Park at 10am to lay funeral wreaths at the Women’s Medical Center, 1725 Broad Street, Cranston; Women & Infants Hospital, 101 Dudley Street, Providence; and Planned Parenthood of RI, 111 Point
Street, Providence.

Please join us at 10am at 1725 Broad Street to lend our voices in support of a women’s right to choose, and to prevent them from
laying their wreath (this is a NON-VIOLENT protest - we just pick
the wreath up if they lay it). A group of us will also be hopping in
our cars to do the same at the other locations.

Hope to see you on Saturday, as well as on Sunday at 6pm at the 2:1 Coalition Roe v. Wade event at Julian’s Restaurant in Providence.

Replacing Sandra Day O’Connor with Samuel Alito would set women back decades. Alito’s vote would tip the Court’s balance on many issues and take us back to the days:

- when sexual harassment and sex discrimination were “all in a day’s work” for women;

-when women were routinely excluded from law schools, medical schools and elite colleges;

-when there were no female firefighters, and no women on the police force;

-when women could be fired for becoming pregnant, or getting married;

-when employment ads were divided into “Help Wanted - Male” and “Help Wanted - Female;”

-when illegal, unsafe abortions, were the norm, and reliable birth control was outlawed as well.

We are determined not to turn back the clock.

Join National NOW’s campaign to save the Court and women’s rights. Visit NOW’s Enraged and Engaged campaign for more information.

To read about what’s happening in Rhode Island, visit www.rifj.org
Providence Journal article
Pawtucket Times article