WASHINGTON, D.C. — The news that Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer plans to retire marks the end of one era—and hopefully the beginning of another.
Justice Breyer has served with distinction, vision and courage for nearly 30 years, authoring opinions that strengthened women’s reproductive rights, the rights of women workers and protected the Affordable Care Act. A champion for women’s rights, he will be missed.
And now, President Biden has the chance to make history. NOW will hold him to his promise to appoint a Black woman to SCOTUS, and ensure that she will hold intersectional feminist values. This Justice must not only protect the current balance of the Court, but strengthen and protect our rights for decades to come.
We’ve seen far too many assaults from the federal bench on our system of laws, our basic rights and our very democracy. We need a Supreme Court that reflects the diversity, values and principles we share, and our determination to fight for women’s rights.
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The National Organization for Women (NOW) is the nation’s leading membership-based advocacy group dedicated to defending women’s rights, advancing equality and combating injustice in all aspects of social, political and economic life. Through educating, mobilizing, and convening a vast network of grassroots activists across the country, NOW advocates for national, state and local policies that promote an anti-racist and intersectional feminist agenda. Since its founding in 1966, NOW has been on the frontlines of nearly every major advancement for women’s rights and continues to champion progressive values today. More about NOW’s efforts and resources is available at NOW.org.