Americans Morn The Death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
9 Sep. 2020
WASHINGTON - Mourners have been gathering at the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court since Friday night when Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died from cancer at the age of 87. The justice is being remembered as a champion of gender equality and as the progressive voice of the court’s decisions on health care, same-sex marriage and immigration cases. While those gathered reflected on the impact of the justice once nicknamed “The Notorious RBG”, they shared an uncertain look at the election.
Mural artist Yehimi Cambron poses with her manager over her mural dedicated to Justice Bader Ginsburg.
Mural artist Yehimi Cambron came to the capital to draw a sidewalk piece to honor Bader Ginsburg.
“It’s just this feeling of an immense loss. Not just as a woman for me because she was such a champion and trailblazer for women but also for me as an undocumented woman and having, knowing that there was someone who was, you know, in the Supreme Court that was protecting us, that was protecting immigrants, that was protecting DACA. And to have lost, that it's a really really big loss,” she said.
As an immigration activist and a person protected under the Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals policy Cambron said, “we have to carry her spirit and be ready to fight, to make sure that we’re causing trouble”.
Sean Kornegay, a D.C. resident, focused on the principles that the justice’s work displayed.
D.C. resident, Sean Kornegay, pauses for a moment of silence in front of the barrier around the Supreme Court.
“I think her passing highlights the power we all possess; the importance of leaning into what we can do at a given moment to make things better for people. I think that’s what she dedicated her life towards, through the law, '' he said.
The 2020 election brings uncertainty and her passing just highlights the importance of protecting systems like “checks and balances” within the government, Kornegay said. Young voters shared a similar look and have noticed a significant push for election participation. Manny Rodriguez said he noticed a trend of visitors to the makeshift memorial wearing apparel urging others to vote.
“It wasn’t as common as it is today,” he said.
Tameron said the death should serve as a wake up call for others to get politically active.
“We’re dealing with a pandemic on top of the fact that we’re gonna need people that are gonna be for your future for the next four years. So if we don’t make our voices heard by voting, I don’t know what to tell you,” he said.
Ana agreed that the election would change more than just who is in the White House.
“That was already something in the back of my mind. We’re not just voting for a president, this is who the Supreme Court will include also,” she said. “Things are already divisive. These next couple months are going to be brutal.”
As Americans around the country continue to pay tribute to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg online and in-person, President Donald Trump has said he will fill the vacant Supreme Court seat with a female nominee ahead of the election, a move Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell has agreed to support and congressional democrats and some republicans have opposed.
