Following Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s allegations of sexual assault against US Supreme Court Judge nominee Brett Kavanaugh and the subsequent FBI investigation, protesters took to the streets of Washington D.C., calling for Kavanaugh to be withdrawn from consideration.
Amy Schumer and Emily Ratajkowski were among those marching against Kavanaugh’s appointment. Ratajkowski held up a sign reading, ‘Respect female existence or expect our resistance’ and Schumer spoke at the Hart Senate Office Building, telling crowds, “No matter how this goes, they cannot keep us down. We will win. A vote for Kavanaugh is a vote saying women don’t matter.”
Protesters were later detained by authorities with Ratajkowski confirming she was among them. “Today I was arrested protesting the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, a man who has been accused by multiple women of sexual assault. Men who hurt women can no longer be placed in positions of power,” she wrote on Twitter.
Dr. Ford came forward about her allegations after Trump nominated Kavanaugh for the role of US Supreme Court Judge – a nomination which, if successful, would make him one of the most powerful men in the United States.
“My motivation in coming forward was to provide the facts about how Mr. Kavanaugh’s actions have damaged my life, so that you can take that into serious consideration as you make your decision about how to proceed,” Dr. Ford said. “It is not my responsibility to determine whether Mr. Kavanaugh deserves to sit on the Supreme Court. My responsibility is to tell the truth.”
Following the hearing, the U.S. Senate is reviewing Kavanaugh’s nomination and the FBI has started an investigation.