See below for reactions by Virginia politicians to this morning’s disgraceful SCOTUS decision. And never forget that every 5-4 ruling in which Neil Gorsuch is in the majority is the result of Republicans stealing the seat from President Obama and his 100% legitimate right to select the replacement for Antonin Scalia. Therefore, as far as I’m concerned, this decision is illegitimate, and will remain illegitimate as long as Gorsuch remains on the Court in his stolen seat.
KAINE STATEMENT ON SUPREME COURT DECISION ON PRESIDENT TRUMP’S TRAVEL BAN
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision upholding the President’s travel ban:
“I’m disappointed that the Supreme Court upheld President Trump’s discriminatory travel ban. President Trump’s intentions with this ban are clear: to stoke fear, perpetuate stereotypes, and make our immigration policy more about politics than national security. Discriminating against individuals based on their religion or country of origin without evidence that the person poses a national security threat doesn’t make us any safer, and it undermines our core values. Congress should pass legislation to revoke this ban.”
STATEMENT OF U.S. SEN. MARK R. WARNER
~ On Supreme Court decision on President Trump’s travel ban ~
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the President’s travel ban:
“The only thing the Supreme Court decided today was that the President’s actions were constitutional. While I disagree with the court, today’s decision does not make the President’s actions or statements related to the travel ban moral or just. We need to fight religious discrimination at every turn. Congress should take action to reverse the Trump travel ban.”
Can’t overstate how much fear and hurt I felt from VA’s minority communities when Trump turned his vicious rhetoric into his travel ban. I fear this SCOTUS decision will be used to justify future acts of discrimination, so long as those in power cover their tracks sufficiently. https://t.co/Ts56EeFNM2
— Mark Herring (@MarkHerringVA) June 26, 2018
Trump and his team were clear about what they were doing and didn’t even try to hide their tracks, yet the Court considered that unrefuted mountain of evidence to be irrelevant. I’m going to keep fighting for the right of every Virginian to live free from discrimination.
— Mark Herring (@MarkHerringVA) June 26, 2018
Beyer: “Supreme Court’s Decision To Uphold Donald Trump’s Muslim Ban Will Go Down As One Of The Worst Mistakes In The Court’s History”
Calls upon Congress to pass his legislation to overturn the ban
June 26, 2018 (Washington, D.C.) – Rep. Don Beyer today issued the following statement on the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision in Trump v. Hawaii:
“I believe that the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Donald Trump’s Muslim ban will go down as one of the worst mistakes in the Court’s history. Chief Justice Roberts and the Justices who concurred in his opinion chose to intentionally overlook the obvious animus of bigotry which was the sole motivation for every iteration of the Muslim ban.
It is clear in hindsight that prejudice was the inspiration behind every Muslim ban. To this day none of the bans has produced any substantive process changes to how the country admits travelers and immigrants beyond simply preventing people from certain races or religions the ability to come to the United States. Justice Sotomayor was exactly right to point out that ‘a reasonable observer would conclude that the proclamation was driven primarily by anti-Muslim animus.’
This historically awful decision is the direct result of Senate Republicans’ theft of a seat on the Supreme Court from President Obama, which remains one of the most shameful and destructive political events in my lifetime.
Last year I introduced legislation, the Freedom of Religion Act, which would end Trump’s Muslim bans and bar him from preventing anyone from entering the country solely on the basis of their religion. Today I call for Congress to pass my bill and reject Donald Trump’s religious bigotry once and for all.”
The Freedom of Religion Act, H.R. 852, has 118 cosponsors in the 115th Congress. Gold Star father Khizr Khan stood next to Rep. Beyer when he announced the introduction of the bill, shortly after Donald Trump’s announcement of his first Muslim ban. Text of the bill is available here.
From Rep. Donald McEachin:
WASHINGTON – Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) issued this statement on the Supreme Court of the United States’ decision to uphold President Trump’s Travel Ban:
“I am disappointed with the Supreme Court’s decision today. The America I know and love doesn’t ban people because of their religion or their country of origin. While the Supreme Court has said it’s constitutional, that doesn’t make it right and I will continue to oppose such discriminatory policies.”
#SCOTUS decided to legitimize Trump’s #MuslimBan. This dangerous ruling undermines the Constitution and American values. https://t.co/D1rMiGMmOR
— Rep. Bobby Scott (@BobbyScott) June 26, 2018
SCOTUS sides with hate and bigotry in a deeply flawed decision. This is a dark day for the Court and the conservative justices. This is not who we are as a country. Lady Liberty weeps. pic.twitter.com/mdohpYKxvu
— Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) June 26, 2018
I agree with Justice Sotomayor’s strong dissent in this case. Equal participation cannot be preserved if our courts don’t remain vigilant in stopping unjust gerrymandering & other voter suppression effortshttps://t.co/iQDLpGjcLd
— Elaine Luria (@ElaineLuriaVA) June 26, 2018
This decision doesn’t make the ban any less Islamophobic and unAmerican. https://t.co/bGuBlV9SVR
— Jennifer Wexton (@JenniferWexton) June 26, 2018
We cannot hope to remain the shining city on a hill that inspires the downtrodden & gives hope to the hopeless by placing haphazard bans on suffering refugees. Discriminatory policies hurt us both internationally and domestically. #VA07https://t.co/NHsR4MFbo4
— Abigail Spanberger (@SpanbergerVA07) June 26, 2018
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