Planned Parenthood Praises Senator Murkowski For Standing Up For Alaskans
Contact:
Jessica Cler, Alaska State Director, (907) 841-0092;
Katie Rogers, Communications Manager, (206) 595-0426
For Immediate Release: Oct. 6, 2018 (Updated: Oct. 6, 2018, noon)
ANCHORAGE — Today, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii (PPVNH) thanked Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) for her efforts against Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Thousands of Alaskans spoke out, shared their story, and stood up for the rights of women, and Senator Murkowski showed she stands by survivors and Alaskans.
Despite the overwhelming opposition, the U.S. Senate confirmed Judge Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court in a vote of 50-48. Senator Murkowski broke with the Republican party, while the majority of senators, including Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) ignored the outpouring of opposition to Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination. These same senators also ignored evidence that he would gut Roe v. Wade, allegations of sexual assault, questions about the honesty of his answers to questions under oath, and serious concerns about his ability to be impartial and unbiased on the highest court of the land.
"Alaskans are proud of Senator Lisa Murkowski for standing up and casting her vote against Judge Brett Kavanaugh, who is unfit to serve a lifetime appointment,” said Jessica Cler, Alaska State Director, PPVNH. “We thank Senator Murkowski for her leadership in this critical moment. When it comes to autonomy over our bodies and our lives, the rights of LGBTQ people, Alaska Natives, and health care access we can’t afford partisan politics. As a Supreme Court Judge, Brett Kavanaugh will shape people’s health and rights for generations. We are grateful for Senator Murkowski’s recognition of this fact. The evidence is clear, by pushing ahead with Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination, Republican leadership and the White House have threatened the integrity of the Supreme Court for years to come.”
Alongside organizations such as the Alaska Federation of Natives, Alaska AFL-CIO, ACLU of Alaska, Protect Our Care, and more than 350 attorneys from Alaska, all women, who opposed this nominee, PPVNH helped lead the charge in standing up for women and health care access. People across the state mobilized to stop Judge Kavanaugh's nomination. They called, wrote, and visited their senators.
Since July, PPVNH made 8,288 calls to Senator Murkowski, held 44 events, organized and supported rally after rally outside of senate offices, and helped constituents fly to D.C. to meet with Senator Murkowski in person.