Muslim Advocates: Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court Nomination Threatens Democracy

Today, several media outlets confirmed that President Trump is planning to name Amy Coney Barrett as his nominee to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court. Also today, Muslim Advocates sent supporters a fact sheet explaining what American Muslims and everyone who cares about civil rights stand to lose if a third Trump justice is forced onto the Supreme Court. The following is a statement from Muslim Advocates Executive Director Farhana Khera:

"What President Trump and Senate Republicans are doing to the Supreme Court is nothing less than a naked power grab that seeks to render decisions for privileged and favored groups over less powerful, ordinary Americans. President Trump and Vice President Pence have both openly admitted that rushing through this justice now is part of a plan to use the Supreme Court to undermine a free and fair presidential election. The Trump administration's shockingly brazen scheme could shake loose the very building blocks of our democracy, and they'll need every vote on the Court they can get to pull it off."

American Muslims already know what's at stake. A Supreme Court with just one Trump justice upheld the Muslim Ban, enshrining a discriminatory policy that forced Muslims to live apart from their families and sent a message that our community is not welcome in this country. One with three Trump justices is capable of excusing so much worse."

"That is why we all must oppose Amy Coney Barrett's nomination to the Supreme Court. This is not a fight about politics or Ms. Barrett's faith. This is a fight about our democracy and the bedrock rights vulnerable communities stand to lose if President Trump forces a third justice onto the Supreme Court mere weeks before a presidential election that he is already trying to delegitimize. More than 200,000 Americans are dead from a still rampaging disease that has also cost millions their jobs. The fact that the Trump administration and congressional Republicans are pulling out all the stops to manufacture a Constitutional crisis instead of dealing with the crisis before us shows that their priority is seizing power, not the welfare of the nation."

Additional Resources:

• Fact sheet: The Supreme Court: What's at Stake

Muslim Advocates is a national civil rights organization working in the courts, in the halls of power and in communities to halt bigotry in its tracks. We ensure that American Muslims have a seat at the table with expert representation so that all Americans may live free from hate and discrimination.