201810.01
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‘Believe Survivors, Cancel Kavanaugh’ rally held in Santa Ana

by in News

Dozens of protesters joined survivors of sexual assault in Santa Ana on Sunday, Sept. 30  to support Christine Blasey Ford and denounce the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.

Roughly 60 demonstrators gathered at Sasscer Park in response to a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing into Blasey Ford’s allegations that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were in high school 36 years ago.

  • Kris Percy of Fullerton records some video during a rally at Sasscer Park in Santa Ana on Sunday, September 30, 2018, in support of Christine Blasey Ford and other sexual assault survivors. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Garden Grove City Council Member Kim Bernice Nguyen speaks at a rally in support of Christine Blasey Ford and other sexual assault survivors at Sasscer Park in Santa Ana on Sunday, September 30, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

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  • Rosa Salazar of Orange shows what she thinks of Christine Blasey Ford during a rally at Sasscer Park in Santa Ana on Sunday, September 30, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Bethany Gilbard, center, of Laguna Woods, joins in the rally in support of Christine Blasey Ford at Sasscer Park in Santa Ana on Sunday, September 30, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Mirvette Judeh, executive board member of the California Democratic Party 56th District, speaks at a rally in support of Christine Blasey Ford and other sexual assault survivors at Sasscer Park Santa Ana on Sunday, September 30, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

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The event was titled the “Believe Survivors, Cancel Kavanaugh” rally. However, many attendees, including Garden Grove City Councilwoman Kim Bernice Nguyen, said they were skeptical that much could be done to keep the appellate court judge from winning approval from the full Senate and being seated on the high court.

Nguyen, speaking from the stage, told the crowd that she was a rape survivor. She said she believes Blasey Ford’s accusations, and fears that if the Senate votes to proceed with Kavanaugh’s appointment in spite of them, it will have a chilling effect on sexual assault victims.

“I think [Kavanaugh] will get confirmed,” Nguyen said following the demonstration. “He will be our next Supreme Court justice, and that’s unconscionable.”

The judiciary committee voted on Kavanaugh’s nomination on Friday, Sept. 28. But that afternoon, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), who had previously publicly supported Kavanaugh’s nomination, called for a delay of a Senate floor vote in order to allow the FBI more time to look into Blasey Ford’s allegations.

That was followed by statements from the White House confirming an investigation to last not more than a week.

Senate Republicans have bristled at any notion of prolonging the confirmation process. During Thursday’s hearing, they and Kavanaugh characterized Blasey Ford’s claim as political theater timed to derail his appointment. Testifying before the Senate panel, Kavanaugh called the allegations against him “a calculated and orchestrated political hit.”

Attendees of Sunday’s rally were skeptical of the FBI’s ability to perform a thorough investigation in a week.

Regardless of the the FBI’s findings or the status of Kavanaugh’s nomination, people at the rally said Ford ‘s testimony was  historic and would impact the nation’s discourse on sexual assault.

“I believe it will give many more women, men, girls and boys the courage to come forward and state what happened to them,” said Cathleen Corey, who said she is a sexual assault survivor and vice chair of Stand Up OC. The group provides support to Democratic candidates.

Organizations named in the rally news release included several Indivisible groups and others that have opposed Trump and Republican lawmakers on various issues.