In response to the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday, September 18, 2020, the Marguerite Casey Foundation issued the following statement from its President and CEO, Dr. Carmen Rojas:
“We are truly saddened by Justice Ginsburg’s passing. She was a fierce advocate for women, and a giant in the fight for equality and justice––recognizing the need to shift power as the only way to consistently espouse those ideals.”
“Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death less than two months before a Presidential election is a major hit to our democratic apparatus at a particularly harrowing time. The communities our foundation seeks to shift power to are still reeling from the economic downturn resulting from the mismanagement of the ongoing pandemic. Added to that, they continue to see state sanctioned violence in the form of police murdering Black, Indigenous, and Latinx people and aligning with white supremacist organizations. Our communities are experiencing unprecedented pain, uncertainty, and trauma.”
“A rush to fill the vacant seat is not in service of our democratic ideals. The last thing we need is the guaranteed hyper-polarization that would result from a battle over the Supreme Court.
“This is a moment of collective mourning for the country––but it is also a moment to fight. Right now. We do not have to sit and wait for the next 44 days. Early voting starts today in MI, NJ & VT & absentee ballots have been mailed in AL, DE, GA, ID, IN, LA, MI, NJ, OK, PA, RI, TN, TX, VT, VA & WY.
“The best way to honor the life and legacy of Justice Ginsburg is by exercising our constitutional rights as citizens to engage in the democratic process and practices of voting, organizing, and protesting. Our government should be representative of the people and the ballot box and streets are the megaphone to amplify the will and voices of the electorate.
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Marguerite Casey Foundation supports leaders who work to shift the balance of power in their communities toward working people and families, and who have the vision and capacity for building a truly representative economy. Marguerite Casey Foundation is committed to giving people and communities the power and resources to change the world.
