WASHINGTON — Men are being asked to don a suit and tie for a Friday protest circling the Supreme Court, the day after the Women’s March returns in D.C. to demonstrate against the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh.
The FBI’s supplementary investigation into sexual assault allegations against the judge is expected to available for viewing at the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he wants a vote on the nomination this week, which could get pushed into the weekend.
The Women’s March is holding a “#Cancel Kavanaugh” Thursday protest at 12:30 p.m. outside the Barrett Prettyman Courthouse in D.C., where Constitution and Pennsylvania avenues meet near the Capitol.
Celebrities lending their names in solidarity to the protest include “The Walking Dead” actor Jon Bernthal, Lena Dunham, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Whoopi Goldberg, “Twin Peaks” actor Kyle MacLachlan, Norman Lear, Eva Longoria, Peter Sarsgaard, John Legend, Alicia Keys, and America Ferrera. It was not clear who would be coming to Washington for the protest, but organizers said not all would be in D.C. and they “ask you to walk out wherever you are.”
Erykah Badu and Maxwell are expected to perform at the event. Other sponsors of the march include Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network and Planned Parenthood.
“The legitimacy of the nation’s highest court is at stake as is the future of our country,” organizers said in the announcement, urging people to call Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) and lobby them to vote against Kavanaugh.
On Friday’s morning at 10 a.m., a separate protest called “Time To Show Up: Calling All Men To Stop Kavanaugh” will assemble outside of the Supreme Court.
“Men, it is time for us to show up. Join us at The Supreme Court as we urge the Senators of the United States to vote ‘NO’ on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh,” say organizers. “Please wear a suit and tie.”
The protesters plan a silent “Jericho March” around the Supreme Court at 11 a.m. followed by a “moment of solidarity in front of the Supreme Court” at noon.
Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said today that senators are being told there will only be one copy for viewing, in an effort to prevent leaks, and each party will be allowed to view it in one-hour increments, alternating, until all 100 senators have been able to read it.
The FBI will first give its results to the White House before the report is passed on to the Judiciary Committee.
McConnell then has to file a cloture motion to end debate on the Kavanaugh nomination. If he does that by midnight tonight, the procedural vote on cloture would come Friday with a final vote on the nomination — simple majority needed — on Saturday.
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