The death of a trailblazer: remembering Ruth Bader Ginsburg
By Ava Bourdeau, Staff Writer
On Friday, Sept. 18, the political atmosphere of this country suddenly became more complex as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away at the age of 87. Ginsburg did a great deal of advocacy during her life, having been widely regarded as a trailblazer for women in law and politics. However, her death has already led to political unrest, with more likely to come.
In life as well as death, Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s impact on American politics is noticable. Prior to her service on the nation’s highest court, she led the legal crusade for women’s rights in the seventies and eighties. In 1972, Ginsburg headed the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Women’s Rights Project, campaigning for equal opportunity for women in the professional world. Ginsburg’s work helped advance women’s roles in society, opening up more opportunities and uplifting many.
“Ruth inspired so many to change what they don’t like about society. She was a firecracker of a woman,” Violet Scott-Street (’21), a politically-active Samo student, said.
Scott-Street was very upset by Ginsburg’s death, having greatly looked up to the trailblazer. She decided to create a memorial in front of the Santa Monica Courthouse honoring the late justice. Having been held in high esteem by several in the area, many felt it was fitting that Santa Monica have its own memorial for Ginsburg. Scott-Street set up a small display of flowers, and was moved to see how many added to it.
“There are so many people in Santa Monica that respect her. I thought it’d be important to honor her memory,” Scott-Street said.
Ginsburg served 27 years on the nation’s highest court, having already spent time fighting for women’s rights in the 1970s. According to a statement made by the Supreme Court, Ginsburg died of complications stemming from metastatic cancer of the pancreas.The spot she has left behind has quickly become an important topic in the presidential race.
“My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed," Ginsburg said days before her death.
Despite this, Trump has already nominated Amy Coney Barrett to fill the empty position, going against Ginsburg’s hopes. Barrett’s nomination has caused democrats to fear the coming of a conservative-majority Legislative Branch. Rights concerning reproduction and the LGBTQ+ community, areas which Coney Barrett has vocalized her opposition to, are now being threatened.
“Amy Coney Barrett has different views than I do concerning women’s bodies and reproductive rights. I don’t agree with her but I do respect her accomplishments,” Lily Haak (’22) said.
Many have cited the fact that Obama was not allowed to nominate a new justice for nearly a year, on the grounds of the then impending presidential election. Now, with the 2020 election in full force, Trump’s prompt nomination has raised more than a few eyebrows.
“I think Trump’s immediate nomination clearly shows that he has no respect for Ginsburg,” Maya Barrett (’22) said.
Coney Barrett had her first hearing on Monday. Topics discussed included healthcare, Coney Barrett’s well-known piety, and COVID-19.
“I guarantee that this nomination would not be such a big deal if not for the current administration… with the Trump administration everything is ten times more publicized,” Haak said.
This year has already been filled with several noteworthy occurrences, the largest of which being the COVID-19 pandemic. Ginsburg’s death is the latest addition to an eventful several months. Trump’s new nomination of Barrett has concerned many, after his polarizing choice to anoint Justice Kavanaugh to the court in 2018. On the other hand, many senators have announced their support of the nominee, including Ted Cruz and Mitch McConnell. Furthermore, it appears that Trump’s nomination of Barrett will indeed come to fruition. In the midst of all of this change, many in Santa Monica, like Scott-Street, will continue to preserve the late justice’s memory.