Rev. Jesse Jackson Opposes President Bush’s Nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court.

CHICAGO – (July 19, 2005) – The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, issued the following statement concerning President Bush’s nomination of John G. Roberts to the Supreme Court.

“With President Bush’s nomination of John G. Roberts, the Supreme Court would have one less woman and one less vote to protect women’s constitutional rights to self determination. A Supreme Court with just one out of nine justices a female and no Hispanic does not look like America. It is an insult.

President Bush is a master of wolves in sheep clothing politics. He gives the impression of moderation, but deep within he is the leader of the radical right wing in our nation. With his nomination of Judge Roberts, Bush strikes another blow to America’s public policy position, and he sets off a new phrase of our struggle for an independent court which upholds the Constitution and protects civil rights and civil liberties.

While Sandra Day O’Connor was a swing vote in dozens of cases that came before the court, Bush’s nominee demonstrates his desire to swing the court in the most radical rightwing direction the nation has seen in over 50 years. Bush’s legacy will be one of turning back the clock to the pre-1954 Supreme Court that gave us Brown vs. Board of Education, Roe vs. Wade, and other landmark cases involving the protection of civil rights and liberties.

If confirmed, women everywhere will have even greater reason to be alarmed. Judge Roberts clearly is a vote to overturn Roe v. Wade.

While working under both Reagan and Bush, Roberts was a radical opponent of affirmative action, supporting hard line policies that opposed affirmative action and efforts to desegregate America’s public schools. If confirmed, people of color and civil rights will have plenty to fear.

Judge Roberts’ law firm was heavily involved in the fight over Florida’s vote count and played a major role in the “appointment” of Bush in 2000. Supporters of voting rights, fair elections and judicial independence have much to fear.

The civil rights gains and the progress this country has made over the past 55 years are under attack. With his nomination of Judge Roberts, President Bush signals his desire to stack the courts with justices who are anti- civil rights and anti-workers’ rights.

As the radical rightwing rejoices, there is no good news for those who live in America’s margins. There is no good news for advocates of women’s right to self-determination, for workers and civil rights.

America cannot withstand a radical rightwing conservative appointment to the Supreme Court. We want a Supreme Court justice who is fair, upholds the Constitution and defends civil rights and workers rights. We want a Supreme Court that models the leadership demonstrated by the Supreme Court of 1954. I call on Americans of conscience to join us in resisting Judge Roberts’ confirmation and bring forth a Justice who will take America forward not backwards.”