COVID-19 Is affecting our mission, but see how we are responding! Learn More >
Finding Common Ground
Senator Tammy Duckworth is a pro-choice Senator from Illinois, but, Students for Life members still had a positive meeting with her staff and tried to find common ground. Brie Heraty, a leader in St. Louis University Students for Life and an Illinois resident recapped her experience. While Duckworth will likely vote against Kavanaugh, there is always an opportunity that her staff will be convinced by our arguments and support Kavanaugh, who is a solid, fair judge and would make another great justice in the mold of the late Justice Antonin Scalia.
Students for Life of America’s meeting with the staff of Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth’s staff member went well considering a major difference of opinion on the issue of abortion. We obviously wanted to encourage Senator Duckworth to confirm Brett Kavanaugh as the next Supreme Court Justice. So, we spoke to Judge Kavanaugh’s character and the fact that he is a judge who is fair and just to all, not just those who hold similar political ideology to himself. We brought up the fact that Illinois residents would be happy with the confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh because he is someone who upholds free speech while also making sure to rule by the law of the Constitution.”
Heraty continued, “We compared him to esteemed former District Attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald who was a champion against corruption and went after both sides of the political aisle. As Fitzgerald was fair in terms of prosecution, Kavanaugh will be fair in terms of rulings and that is something that should be important to Republican and Democrat Senators alike. In addition to encouraging the nomination of Kavanaugh we sought to find more areas of common ground and praised Senator Duckworth for being the first woman to bring her child on to the Senate floor and to be able to pass legislation surrounding that. Both her staff member and our team agreed that there needs to be real change in the way that this country views motherhood and concrete actions need to be taken in order to foster an environment that tells a woman that she is capable of pursuing an education, having a career, and being a mother. We need actions that cultivate a culture of life. We wrapped up by talking about how Students for Life is doing just that with programs like our Pregnant on Campus initiative. ”
How You Can Help
Students for Life is meeting with the staff of Senators across the country, including with staff for Senator McCaskill, Rubio, Manchin, Capito, Sullivan, and Murkowski. While there are many steps that must be taken to abolish abortion, Students for Life did a great job of not only engaging in the Public Policy Pillar, but also promoting the Supportive Services Pillar of Students for Life.
Do you want to learn how you can make a difference and help confirm Brett Kavanaugh? Sign up today at justice4life.org to become an individual activist or to find a rally near you!
