Everyone loves the party game/icebreaker “two truths and a lie.” The first Women’s March was held in January 2017 following the 2016 presidential election, in protest of President Trump’s inauguration. Since then, around the same time every year, the group has continued to host this demonstration.
This year, on October 17, the Women’s March held another nationwide march to “send an unmistakable message about the fierce opposition to Trump and his agenda, including his attempt to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat,” according to the group’s organizers.
Can you identify which of the following is NOT true about the Women’s March?
A. The Women’s March emphasizes diversity but has come under criticism multiple times for its lack of inclusion.
B. In 2019, the Women’s March released their “Women’s Agenda,” which consists of progressive policy proposals.
C. The Women’s March opposes the appointment of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court due to legitimate concerns about the confirmation process and her fitness to serve.
Let’s take these statements one at a time:
A. TRUE! The mission of the Women’s March, according to the group’s website, is to “harness the political power of diverse women and their communities to create transformative social change” and goes on to say that the group is committed to “building inclusive structures.” Time and time again, however, the group has been intolerant of those with different views or beliefs. Even more troubling were the allegations of radical anti-Semitism that led to three of the group’s founding members to step down last year.
B. TRUE! Last year, the Women’s March released an agenda which details “24 essential federal policy priorities” and includes support for Medicare for All, gun restrictions, and the Equal Rights Amendment.
C. FALSE! The Women’s March opposes Judge Barrett’s confirmation, but not due to legitimate concerns about the process or her qualifications. The process we are witnessing is totally legitimate and normal: Presidents have not only the authority, but the constitutional duty, to fill vacancies. The Constitution states that the president “shall nominate” justices of the Supreme Court “with the Advice and Consent of the Senate.”
When it comes to fitness to serve, Judge Amy Coney Barrett is highly qualified. As a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, she has written more than 100 opinions. She has also been a professor and a practicing attorney, graduated first in her class from Notre Dame Law School and had two prestigious clerkships.
But the Women’s March doesn’t support Judge Barrett because the group only supports nominees who support their political agenda. Clearly, the Women’s March movement doesn’t represent women and will even try to tear those who disagree with them down.
That’s why Independent Women’s Forum and our sister organization, Independent Women’s Voice (IWV), held the second annual March for All Women event—”I’m With Her” Rally, to celebrate and champion ALL women and ALL voices, and to support the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court.