Hours before Judge Brett Kavanaugh and Dr. Christine Blasey Ford testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee Sept. 27, 300 Liberty University students boarded buses and traveled to the nation’s capital to show support for Kavanaugh.
The Liberty students were hosted by Concerned Women for America and attended the CWA Women for Kavanaugh “I stand with Brett Rally,” which took place at the park behind the Russell Senate Office Building. Later, students participated in a silent protest in the Hart Senate Office Building.
With about 500 in attendance, Peggy Nance, the CEO of CWA, opened the event and addressed Liberty students, anti-Kavanaugh protesters and members of numerous conservative organizations.
“We are here today to give conservative women the chance to let our voices be heard on this subject,” Nance said. “There’s been a lot of talk, right? Now you’re going to hear from us.”
The rally called for the silent majority in the U.S. to not be silent anymore. There was a common call for fairness, active young women in government and a cautious warning for women to protect their narratives of abuse from getting hijacked for political gain.
Women of America came to D.C. and stood divided on who to believe during the Ford-Kavanaugh hearings. (Photo by Lillian Abbatacola)
“In general, for too long, feminists have held the microphone when it comes to speaking out about what women want,” Karin Lips, president of the Network of Enlightened Women, said. “Radical feminists have
had that microphone, and it’s time for more intellectual diversity, for more conservative and pro-liberty women to speak out for our ideas.”
Over a dozen women spoke at the rally, including Allie Stuckey, Patrice Onwuka and Peggy Nienaber. Onwuka spoke about the unfairness women face when they tell their sexual abuse stories, but she also highlighted the unjust treatment of Kavanaugh during his hearing process.
“When we have leaders who are willing to turn upside down a sacred and bedrock principle of the presumption of innocence for whatever motives, that is dangerous,” Onwuka said.
The idea of a fair, due process was on the minds of other speakers as well.
“I hope that both people testifying get a fair shake,” Lips said.
Lips wrote an op-ed for the Washington Examiner Sept. 27 about how Sen. Dianne Feinstein mishandled Ford’s July 30 allegation and derailed Kavanaugh’s fair due process.
“Feinstein failed at her job as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee by withholding this information and further politicizing this nomination process,” Lips said. “And she has failed as an advocate for women. She should at least apologize.”
The consensus from speakers at the rally was that fairness is due for both sides.
“I think fairness looks like if an allegation comes forward that the accuser and the accused actually have the opportunity to speak,” Onwuka said. “And not to assume right off the bat that because a woman made an allegation, that she should be believed. And not to believe the opposite either. I think fairness is treating both men and women equally and not giving greater weight to gender just because women should be believed in every instance.”
Onwuka said she is not opposed to movements that look to fight sexual harassment. She called for accountability and emphasized the need for fairness.
“Every day this stuff happens, sexual violence and assault do happen,” Onwuka said. “And we have a responsibly to report it and to hold people accountable for it. But we also have to make sure that we don’t just assume that because the allegation is believed that someone’s reputation should be destroyed. And so, I think it’s really important that we bring this out into the light but also ensure that someone is held accountable.”
Proper due process is the key that unlocks equality, said Onwuka. This sentiment rang consistently with the other speakers.
“It is also unfair to make Brett Kavanaugh the stand in for every predator and perpetrator of those wrongdoings,” Onwuka said.
Lips and Liberty’s chapter president for Young Women for America, Victoria Belk, both called for young women to get involved in politics.
“I’m excited to see so many young people speaking out about the future because this matters,” Lips said.
Belk, who said she was frustrated with the unorthodox questions the Senate Judiciary Committee asked of Kavanaugh, called for her peers to get involved.
“There’s no generation gap,” Belk said. “Young women are supporting (Kavanaugh). We also want to be involved with the scene and show that we support his family and stand up for our judicial processes.”
Liberty students and other rally goers cheered and held signs in support of Kavanaugh. Some signs read “Kava-yeah” or “Stand strong, the truth is your shield.” The sign reading “Mama bears unite” was held by Kimberly Fletcher, the president and founder of Moms for America.
Fletcher said that the Senate Judiciary Committee’s process is detrimental for the future of America.
“What they are doing with this process is actually not just making a mockery of this process and completely disrespecting the integrity of it, but it’s also marginalizing the act that they are accusing this man of doing and putting every one of our girls and women in danger of not being believed in the future,” Fletcher said.
Fletcher also said that radical feminists are “weaponizing women” and using women as obstructions. She said today’s culture uses women and their stories to “kowtow men.”
Onwuka and Fletcher both encouraged women to immediately follow through with the law if they are ever sexually violated.
“Don’t sweep (sexual misconduct) under the rug and then one day drag it out or allow people to use your story for political motivations,” Onwuka said.
“The #MeToo movement is important, and it’s real, but we also believe in justice and due process; we believe in a presumption of innocence,” Nance said. “And the minute we weaponize and politicize (an) important issue like rape, we degrade every victim in this country. It has to stop. It stops now. It stops here.”
Just a few hours later, Dr. Ford said during her testimony that she was not a political pawn and was not using her story for partisan gain.