TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - Several pro-choice and gay rights groups gathered in the state capital Thursday, calling on Florida Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio to oppose the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Earlier this week, Kavanaugh was nominated by President Donald Trump to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy on the nation’s highest court.
Rallying in front of the Florida Supreme Court, progressive activists said Kavanaugh’s judicial record is too extreme and does not reflect the values of most Floridians.
Kimberly Scott with Planned Parenthood says Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation could see the landmark Roe versus Wade decision on abortion overturned, more than 45 years after it became law.
“To know that we would have a justice who is already coming in with biases is a dangerous, dangerous precedent," said Scott. "We need to make sure that we are there to stand against this type of nominee and make sure that we make that clear to Senator Rubio and Senator Nelson.”
Protesters also chided Kavanaugh for his opinions on gay rights issues and the Affordable Care Act, saying there is a possibility that the law known as ObamaCare could be overturned.
As of Thursday, Senators Nelson and Rubio were both officially non-committal on their vote for Kavanaugh, whose confirmation hearings are expected to take place this fall, ahead of the November midterm elections.
