Update: Watch the video from the rally featuring Senators Schumer, Whitehouse, Menendez, Cardin, SEIU Executive VP Mary Kay Henry and Hispanic Federation President Lillian Rodriguez Lopez.
On the eve of an expected final vote to confirm Sonia Sotomayor, hundreds of the judge's supporters, SEIU members and partners within the progressive community gathered at Upper Senate Park on Capitol Hill to call for the confirmation of Judge Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.
SEIU Executive Vice President Mary Kay Henry joined Senators Cardin, Schumer, Whitehouse and Menendez and other community and civil rights leaders to voice support for Judge Sonia Sotomayor. "As the daughter of a nurse and a factory worker who instilled in her the value of hard work and giving back, she is a woman who has always earned her way to the top of the class and found ways to use her accomplishments to enhance the lives of others," said Henry.
Beyond Sotomayor's brilliance, her three-decade career in the law and her distinguished record, Judge Sotomayor's personal story of achievement has given her a rare insight into the lives of people who get up and go to work each day to make a better life for their families. She has proven to be a brilliant and fair-minded jurist who has consistently interpreted this country's labor laws in the manner in which they were intended. Henry detailed an example at today's rally:
"In the baseball strike of 1995, she recognized that the owners had forced the strike by engaging in unlawful conduct, and issued an injunction. She has enforced the rights of workers to be free of all types of discrimination at work, to be paid the wages and health benefits to which they are entitled. She recognized that workers have a right to a fair contract and has held employers accountable for needless delays that do nothing but hurt workers."
Read Mary Kay Henry's comments from the rally here. Photos on Flickr here -- stay tuned for video footage later tonight.
Leaders from the civil rights community issued the following statements at the rally after the jump.
"We are on the verge of a significant moment in the history of our democracy. The nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court has inspired millions and attracted an extraordinary depth and breadth of support in every corner of America. This outstanding, well-qualified Latina judge should be confirmed - overwhelmingly."
- Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Executive Vice President Nancy Zirkin
"This is an historic vote and nomination for the Latino community. Judge Sotomayor's nomination was a proud moment for all Latinos and it has captured the aspiration and energy of all Latinos."
- National Council of La Raza (NCLR) President and CEO Janet Murguía
"Judge Sonia Sotomayor's history tells the story of a woman who embodies the American story of hard work, perseverance and talent. More than that, her 17-year record on the bench demonstrates a fidelity to the rule of law and core constitutional values. Alliance for Justice calls on senators to stand up for a fair and independent Supreme Court and support the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor."
- Alliance for Justice (AFJ) President Nan Aron
"Judge Sonia Sotomayor will bring a fresh perspective to a Supreme Court that has interpreted the ADA and the Constitution in a manner that has seriously undermined Congressional efforts to recognize and protect our civil rights. In her 17 years on the bench, she has shown that she has an impressive record protecting the civil rights of all Americans."
- American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) President and CEO Andrew Imparato
"Judge Sotomayor is an extraordinary choice for this moment and for the future challenges this country will see, and working women and men all around this country recognize that her nomination to serve on the nation's highest court is a strong stride forward in America's commitment to justice and excellence."
- Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Vice President Mary Kay Henry
"A thorough review of Judge Sotomayor's record clearly demonstrates that she is an intelligent jurist with mainstream values, a proven commitment to civil rights protection and a judicial temperament that makes her an excellent choice to serve on the Supreme Court. Her 17 years on the federal bench show that she takes an impartial and balanced approach to the cases before her, and that she is above all fair. America has not seen a more inspired choice to serve on the court of last resort since the great Justice Thurgood Marshall."
- NAACP Washington Bureau Director Hilary O. Shelton
"Judge Sonia Sotomayor is a brilliant jurist and a historic nominee who has outstanding legal qualifications and a demonstrated commitment to equal rights and equal justice. We are here this morning to tell the Senate: Confirm her now! Make Sonia Sotomayor the first Hispanic and the third woman to join our highest court."
- National Partnership for Women and Families Senior Advisor Judith L. Lichtman
"Judge Sotomayor is going to make an exceptional Justice. She's brilliant, reveres the Constitution, and understands how the law affects our daily lives. Those who grasp at straws to oppose her will soon find that they were on the wrong side of history."
- People for the American Way (PFAW) Executive Vice President Marge Baker
