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| Friday night, as word of the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg spread, crowds gathered outside the U.S. Supreme Court to pay their respects. |
UPDATED: 2 p.m., Sept. 20 to include Kamala Harris response.
Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who died from cancer Friday, spent a good part of her life advancing the rights of all Americans. Her legal opinions as a Supreme Court Justice benefitted the lives of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as they improved the lives of all men and women.
Sen. Kamala Harris, Democratic nominee for Vice President:
"Tonight we mourn, we honor, and we pray for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her family. Tomorrow we fight for her legacy.
"For all who believe in the power of the law as a force for change, Justice Ginsburg was and will always be a titan. She was a relentless defender of justice in our country and a legal mind for the ages. She also remained, throughout her life, a proud daughter of Brooklyn, with immigrant roots and a fire lit from an early age as a champion for progress and equality.
"Justice Ginsburg was known to pose the question, ‘What is the difference between a bookkeeper in the Garment District and a Supreme Court justice?' Her answer: 'One generation.' She never forgot where she came from, or those who sacrificed to help her grow into the historic icon we all came to revere.
"Even as we focus on the life that she led and process tonight’s grief, her legacy and the future of the court to which she dedicated so much can’t disappear from our effort to honor her. In some of her final moments with her family, she shared her fervent wish to 'not be replaced until a new President is installed.' We will honor that wish.
"Justice Ginsburg used every ounce of life she was bestowed to urge our nation down a path toward equal justice. Doug and I send our heartfelt prayers to Jane and James, and the entire Ginsburg family, particularly on this holy day of Rosh Hashanah. According to Jewish tradition, on Rosh Hashanah we begin a period of reflection. Tonight, we reflect on the legacy of Justice Ginsburg and we honor her belief in creating a fair and just world by recommitting to fight for that justice."
John C. Yang, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC:
“Tonight, Advancing Justice - AAJC mourns the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She was a pioneering champion for gender equality and a tireless protector of civil and human rights for all people in this country. Her voice will be sorely missed.
"As a civil rights organization, Advancing Justice - AAJC honors Justice Ginsburg, as a guiding light on cases of utmost importance to the work we do and the equity we seek, not only for Asian Americans but for all Americans. From dissenting opinions in Shelby v. Holder and Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. to landmark opinions in Evenwel v. Abbott that affirmed one person, one vote and United States v. Virginia which allowed women to attend the Virginia Military Institute, Justice Ginsburg was an unrelenting, fierce defender of justice.
"Given that people are already voting, and Election Day is less than 45 days away, ‘we the people’ should choose the president who will choose Justice Ginsburg’s replacement. Anything else is undemocratic. This election already was critically important in determining the future of our country. Tonight, it became even more important."
National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum Executive Director Sung Yeon Choimorrow:
"Justice Ginsburg was a champion for gender equality and a pioneer for women. “I dissent” became a collective catchphrase inspired by her because of her determined defense of women’s rights, often as a dissenter. In the recent Supreme Court case Trump v. Pennsylvania, Justice Ginsburg dissented, noting that the Court’s decision to allow employers to exempt themselves from the Affordable Care Act’s contraception coverage requirement “leaves women workers to fend for themselves, to seek contraceptive coverage from sources other than their employer’s insurer, and, absent another available source of funding, to pay for contraceptive services out of their own pockets.”
"Justice Ginsburg’s notorious dissents indicate the reality that decisions coming from the Supreme Court often were not on the side of justice for our communities, who continue to struggle against attacks on our rights and our ability to thrive. If President Trump is able to confirm a nomination, those attacks on our lives, our families, and our communities will intensify and risk being sanctioned by our highest court. However, the people of this nation will not be silent in the process. We demand a judge who will protect the rights we have fought for and those that Justice Ginsburg worked to deliver, and we will be bold and fearless as that fight continues.”
“Justice Ginsburg was a principled, dignified defender of justice for all, and her legacy will long be remembered. She dedicated her entire career, on and off the Court, to protecting rights for women and LGBTQ individuals, and advancing justice for millions of people in America. Her wisdom served to remind us that the Supreme Court belonged to all of us, not to any party or politician. Her rulings were the embodiment of those words etched on the building in which she served – equal justice under law. Freedom has lost a stalwart champion. We join the nation in grieving this tremendous loss and extend our condolences to her family and loved ones.
“Under no circumstances should the Senate consider a replacement for Justice Ginsburg until after inauguration. People are already voting in an election where the presidency and Congress hang in the balance. Majority Leader McConnell left Justice Scalia’s seat open for more than a year because the vacancy occurred nine months before the general election. If Trump and McConnell have any decency and self-respect, they will honor Justice Ginsburg’s final request: ‘My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.’
“It would be an insult to her legacy for this president to select a justice he promises will assail our rights and undermine, upend, and unravel our democratic norms for generations. We demand a Supreme Court that is just and fair. We cannot let Trump get a third justice who will jeopardize racial justice, health care access, and so many more issues. Our fundamental rights are at risk. To honor Justice Ginsburg’s legacy, we need our Court to recognize and protect the rights of all of us.”
ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero issued the following statement:
“Few individuals have had such a dramatic and lasting effect on a particular area of law as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who directed the work of the ACLU Women’s Rights Project from its founding in 1972 until her appointment to the federal bench in 1980.
“During the 1970s, Ginsburg led the ACLU in a host of important legal battles, many before the Supreme Court, that established the foundation for the current legal prohibitions against sex discrimination in this country and helped lay the groundwork for future women’s rights advocacy. By 1974, the Women’s Rights Project and ACLU affiliates had participated in over 300 sex discrimination cases; between 1969 and 1980, the ACLU participated in 66 percent of gender discrimination cases decided by the Supreme Court.
“In 1981, President Carter appointed Ginsburg to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. In 1993, Ruth Bader Ginsburg became the second woman to be a Justice on the Supreme Court.
“In her honor we will be dedicating the ACLU Center for Liberty as the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Liberty Center.
“She leaves a country changed because of her life’s work.”
Asian American & Pacific Democratic Caucus (AAPIDC) Nevada
"Though she is gone, the fight she fought is not. Not even twenty-four (24) hours after her passing, President Trump and the GOP seek to undermine Justice Ginsburg’s work and immediately replace her with someone who will more likely than not unwind the very protections that she put in place.
"Though we wish to mourn, the very actions taken by those Justice Ginsburg highly criticized remind us to not be complacent. We cannot allow, nor should we accept, any thing that undermines our humanity or further unravels the values of the American people. Her death is another reminder of the importance of this year’s election and that we should act; or - at the very least - vote."
Congressmember Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County):"Ruth Bader Ginsberg represented the best of America. With patriotism and passion, she never shied away from taking on the challenge of making our country a more just and equal place. As a civil rights icon, Ruth Bader Ginsburg carved out a new path for women in our country - demonstrating that everyone is entitled to justice and opportunity under the law. She was a legal pioneer that our country needed and she will be desperately missed. This is a devastating loss for our country but her memory, and her legacy, are a blessing."
Congressmember Pramila Jayapal (WA-07):
“Tonight, our nation not only lost a historic member of the highest court in our land but a trailblazer for women everywhere. From her passionate advocacy work on behalf of women to her nearly three decades on the Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg served with grace and brilliance while fighting for equality and justice.
“As the Director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Women’s Rights Project, Justice Ginsburg put her strength and unparalleled legal knowledge to work each day as an organizer who helped lay the foundation for landmark constitutional protections against sex discrimination. Following her confirmation to the bench in 1993, she brought her fierce intellect, determination for justice, and quick-wit with her as she became only the second woman to ever serve on the Supreme Court.
“As some looked out for corporations and the powerful, she lifted up families and the most vulnerable. With every case she deliberated on, she was guided by the promise of the very words carved above the Supreme Court: equal justice under law. Her tireless work on the court protected and expanded women’s rights, reproductive rights, voting rights, civil rights, and workers’ rights. She helped make possible historic progress on LGBTQ+ equality, health care, immigration, the environment, and getting money out of politics. And she did all of this while never losing sight of what makes our nation great—our inclusivity, our sense of justice, our commitment to equality and opportunity for all.
“In honor of Justice Ginsburg’s inspiring life, her powerful legacy, and her never ending pursuit for justice, let us continue her work. I am committed to continuing the critical work necessary to make our country more equal, more fair, and more just. As one of only 79 women of color to have ever served in the United States Congress, I am fully committed to continuing the legacy of this beloved “shero”: from finally ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment to protecting abortion rights, workers’ rights, LGTBQ+ rights, and civil rights for all. And I am committed to making sure women across the country and throughout the world can blaze their own trails, that they are never held back on the basis of sex — or any identity.
“May Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s memory be a blessing. And may she rest in power.”
“Tonight, our nation not only lost a historic member of the highest court in our land but a trailblazer for women everywhere. From her passionate advocacy work on behalf of women to her nearly three decades on the Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg served with grace and brilliance while fighting for equality and justice.
“As the Director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Women’s Rights Project, Justice Ginsburg put her strength and unparalleled legal knowledge to work each day as an organizer who helped lay the foundation for landmark constitutional protections against sex discrimination. Following her confirmation to the bench in 1993, she brought her fierce intellect, determination for justice, and quick-wit with her as she became only the second woman to ever serve on the Supreme Court.
“As some looked out for corporations and the powerful, she lifted up families and the most vulnerable. With every case she deliberated on, she was guided by the promise of the very words carved above the Supreme Court: equal justice under law. Her tireless work on the court protected and expanded women’s rights, reproductive rights, voting rights, civil rights, and workers’ rights. She helped make possible historic progress on LGBTQ+ equality, health care, immigration, the environment, and getting money out of politics. And she did all of this while never losing sight of what makes our nation great—our inclusivity, our sense of justice, our commitment to equality and opportunity for all.
“In honor of Justice Ginsburg’s inspiring life, her powerful legacy, and her never ending pursuit for justice, let us continue her work. I am committed to continuing the critical work necessary to make our country more equal, more fair, and more just. As one of only 79 women of color to have ever served in the United States Congress, I am fully committed to continuing the legacy of this beloved “shero”: from finally ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment to protecting abortion rights, workers’ rights, LGTBQ+ rights, and civil rights for all. And I am committed to making sure women across the country and throughout the world can blaze their own trails, that they are never held back on the basis of sex — or any identity.
“May Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s memory be a blessing. And may she rest in power.”
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