Celebrities, lawmakers wear black to support Kavanaugh’s accuser

By Michael Burke - 09/24/18 03:06 PM EDT
 
Celebrities, lawmakers wear black to support Kavanaugh’s accuser
© Greg Nash

A range of celebrities and lawmakers on Monday voiced their support for a national #BelieveSurvivors walkout, which was organized in support of the woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her in the 1980s.

More than 80 progressive groups planned to stage walkouts at 1 p.m. on Monday in solidarity with Christine Blasey Ford, who had been originally requested to appear Monday in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee to give testimony. The organizers of the walkout encouraged supporters to use the hashtag #BelieveSurvivors on social media and to wear black.

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Ford is now set to testify at a Thursday hearing.

"Wore black today in support of all survivors of sexual assault or abuse. We won't let them be silenced or ignored. #BelieveSurvivors" Sen. Kamala HarrisKamala Devi HarrisFive former Obama ambassadors back Buttigieg Harris: Integrity of US justice system 'took a real blow' with Barr's actions Sanders announces first endorsements in South Carolina MORE (D-Calif.), a member of the Judiciary Committee, wrote on Twitter.

House Minority Leader Nancy PelosiNancy Patricia D'Alesandro PelosiBoth sides were wrong about Mueller report, and none of it will likely matter for 2020 Elijah Cummings: 'I am begging the American people to pay attention to what's going on' Angus King: 'Mueller passed the obstruction question to the Congress and Barr intercepted the pass' MORE (D-Calif.) also joined in, tweeting that "we have to stand up for what is right and #BelieveSurvivors."

Other lawmakers who participated or voiced support for the walkouts included Democratic Reps. Lois FrankelLois Jane FrankelDemocrats put harassment allegations against Trump on back burner GOP on defensive over Dem votes on policies geared toward women Endorsements? Biden can't count on a flood from the Senate MORE (Fla.), Yvette Clark (N.Y.) and Ted Lieu (Calif.).

Actress Kerry Washington, who starred in the ABC series "Scandal," tweeted that she was wearing black Monday in solidarity with Ford.

Actress Rachel Bloom, meanwhile, tweeted a photo showing her participating in a walkout. 

Other celebrities who showed support on social media for the walkout included actresses Felicia Day, Connie Britton and Octavia Spencer. 

A number of rallies were also held Monday as part of the movement, including in New York and at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington.

Monday's walkouts came after The New Yorker on Sunday reported that Senate Democrats are investigating a second sexual misconduct allegation against Kavanaugh, dating back to his freshman year at Yale University.

Kavanaugh is scheduled to testify Thursday in relation to Ford's accusation. Ford has said that Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed and attempted to remove her clothes, covering her mouth with his hand to silence her cries.

Tags Kamala Harris Lois Frankel Nancy Pelosi Walkout #BelieveSurvivors sexual misconduct allegations