Iran Press/ America: The US Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled an Oct. 22 vote on the nomination of Barrett, a conservative appellate judge, over objections from Democrats that the confirmation process comes too close to Nov. 3's presidential election.
Demonstrators at the Women's March said they were angry that Republicans appear ready to confirm Barrett's nomination so close to Election Day after refusing to move forward Merrick Garland, the pick of former President Barack Obama, a Democrat, more than six months ahead of the 2016 election, Reuters reported.
"The fact of the matter is that we are powerful and they are afraid," said Sonja Spoo, the director of the reproductive rights campaigns at UltraViolet, a feminist advocacy group, one of the speakers at the protest. "They are on the ropes and they know it and we are about to give the knock-out punch."
The protesters marched through downtown Washington to the Supreme Court steps. Hundreds of marches and demonstrations were planned at city halls, parks, and monuments across the country.
Simultaneous marches were held in other cities including Denver, New York, and Nashville.
The Women's March organization has suffered from growing pains since its first show of force in 2017.
Controversy and allegations of anti-Semitism surrounding its founders eventually led to three of them stepping down from the board last year. They had denied the allegations. The Women's March then appointed 17 new leaders to the board.
In confirmation hearings this week, Barrett side-stepped questions about presidential powers, abortion, climate change, voting rights, and Obamacare, saying she could not answer because cases involving these matters could come before the court.
If Barrett takes a seat on the Supreme Court, conservatives would have a 6-3 majority.
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