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Watch NAN’s Press Conference with Civil Rights Groups to Oppose Supreme Court Nomination

(New York, NY) — Following the Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Judge Amy Coney Barrett, Rev. Sharpton and the National Action Network convened a virtual press conference in order to discuss Judge Barrett’s failed civil rights record, the flaws in her nomination process, the risk she places to voting rights, the Affordable Care Act, and Roe v Wade.

Concluding the Press Conference, Rev. Sharpton noted:

“You’ve heard from the leaders of the major civil rights organizations of this country. […] I believe that people tell us a lot when they tell us about the traditions they come from and who their heroes are. This president said that his hero was President Andrew Jackson. He hung a picture of Andrew Jackson in his Oval Office.

Andrew Jackson nominated, to the Supreme Court, Judge Roger Taney. Judge Roger Taney was the one who had the ruling of Dred Scott, that Blacks had no rights, that anyone was bound to respect. If this is his hero, than I would assume that he was guided by the spirit of Andrew Jackson […]. That alone makes a fear that he is nominating some 21st century Judge Taney – that they may be more polished, may have more characteristics of being moderate, and not as reactionary […] but will vote the same and will disregard the rights of people that need healthcare, that need voting rights, that need policing to be accountable, as well as LGBTQ rights and women’s rights to choose.”