23 Sep Statement on the Late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
ATLANTA – Dr. Charles Steele, Jr., president and CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the organization co-founded and first led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., issued the following statement today in response to the untimely death of former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Friday. Justice Ginsburg was the second woman on the U.S Supreme Court and a brave advocate for social justice.
SCLC President/CEO Press Conference Photo July 2018
“Our prayers are extended to the Ginsburg family. Her service to our nation will be missed. With her passing, it is do or die for poor people, people of color and those who have been disenfranchised. She stood tall and courageous on the Supreme Court and her accomplishments are many even in defeat. It will be a travesty for America not to recognize her contributions to society and what she stood for in such a meaningful position. We saw her courage and principles on display in the Shelby County vs Holder case in 2013. That is when section four and section five of the Voting Rights act was gutted, and Justice Ginsburg was one of the dissenters. For those who no longer saw the need for such protections for victims of racism, she said that was like having an umbrella in the rain, and you are not getting any rain on you and you say that you do not need an umbrella any more. That is what happened when section four and five of the Voting Rights was rescinded and gutted. Justice Ginsburg was extremely disappointed. Of all her accomplishments, this act of conviction, put her life on the line, and it will be remembered as one of her most significant moments. The court highlighted where we truly stand on the most important issues in our nation. With Ginsburg’s death, we need others to stand tall and courageous when it comes to ending systemic racism and other injustices in America, because it is still raining, and our umbrellas are still up. Justice Ginsburg knew if we did not restore sections four and five of the Voting Rights Act that America would be in the position it is today where there is so much discourse and unrest. Let us not forget the legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.”
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ABOUT THE SCLC: Established in 1957, the SCLC, whose first president was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is an international organization made up of chapters and affiliates with programs that affect the lives of all Americans: north, south, east, and west. Its sphere of influence and interests have become international in scope because the human rights movement transcends national boundaries. For additional information about the SCLC, visit www.nationalsclc.org.To arrange an interview with Dr. Steele, contact at Jerry Thomas at jerry@jerrythomaspr.com, or (312) 414-4016.
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