FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, April 7, 2022

Contact: [email protected] 

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Stephanie L. Young, Executive Director of When We All Vote, a leading voting organization committed to increasing participation in every election, released the following statement after the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court: 

“Today, we are all witnesses to history. Fifty three senators voted to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as not only the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, but also one of the most qualified justices, with more years of experience as a judge than four of the sitting justices combined when they were confirmed. 

Her confirmation is a win for our entire nation and the future of our democracy. Thousands of women stood up across this country to press the Senate to do the right thing with a swift confirmation. Today, we thank the Black women who have led this fight for decades, and everyone who joined When We All Vote in calling their Senators and demanding that they confirm Judge Jackson. But our fight is far from over. Instead of discussing many of the issues we care about as the American people during the confirmation process, many Senators used it as an attempt to defame Judge Jackson’s character with lies and misinformation. 

Despite the intense and often disrespectful process, Judge Jackson never wavered, she persevered. And so will we. 

The Supreme Court will be at the center of the fight for voting rights. More than 500 anti-voter bills have been proposed in states across the country, and we saw the impact of those bills in Texas when thousands of mail-in ballots were rejected, disproportionately impacting Black and Brown voters. We have seen the Supreme Court minimize Black voting power in states like Alabama and Wisconsin, and the Court now has the opportunity to double down on its commitment to the Voting Rights Act and our sacred right to vote. We will continue to make our voices heard and hold all of our government representatives accountable for upholding the values of this nation.”

When We All Vote has consistently mobilized its community of grassroots volunteers, corporate leaders and celebrity ambassadors in the fight for voting rights. In partnership with the United State of Women, When We All Vote launched a digital campaign encouraging Americans to call their Senators in support of Judge Jackson. In January, When We All Vote founder and Co-Chair Michelle Obama announced that thirty of the nation’s largest civil rights and voting organizations joined When We All Vote in the Fight For Our Vote pledge to recruit and train 100,000 volunteers, register more than one million new voters, organize at least 100,000 Americans to contact their Senators to fight for federal voting rights legislation and more. 

ABOUT When We All Vote: 

When We All Vote, an initiative of Civic Nation, is a leading national, nonpartisan initiative on a mission to change the culture around voting and to increase participation in each and every election by helping to close the race and age gap. Created by Michelle Obama, When We All Vote brings together individuals, institutions, brands, and organizations to register new voters across the country and advance civic education for the entire family and voters of every age to build an informed and engaged electorate for today and generations to come. We empower our supporters and volunteers to take action through voting, advocating for their rights, and holding their elected officials accountable. 

In 2020, When We All Vote ran a robust, multifaceted campaign and reached more than 100 million people to educate them about the voting process and get them registered and ready to vote. The initiative also led in voter education, registration, and volunteer engagement and as a result, 512,000 people started or completed the voter registration process, and nearly 500 media, corporate, and nonprofit partners joined its efforts.

Michelle Obama launched When We All Vote in 2018 and is joined by fellow Co-Chairs Stephen Curry, Becky G, Selena Gomez, Tom Hanks, H.E.R., Liza Koshy, Jennifer Lopez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monae, Chris Paul, Megan Rapinoe, Shonda Rhimes, Bretman Rock, Kerry Washington and Rita Wilson. 

When We All Vote is a key initiative within Civic Nation, a 501(c)(3) organization, and works with Civic Nation Action, a 501(c)(4). These organizations are homes for changemakers who inspire, educate, and activate people around the issues that will define this generation.

ABOUT Civic Nation:

Civic Nation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit home for changemakers who inspire, educate, and activate people around the issues that will define this generation. Civic Nation empowers and educates individuals, companies, institutions and organizations to drive culture, systems, and policy change, working towards a more inclusive and equitable America. Seven initiatives are a part of the Civic Nation family: When We All Vote, United State of Women, ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, End Rape On Campus, It’s On Us, Made to Save and We The Action. Learn more here.

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