Chattanoogans react to Kavanaugh hearings

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Before the Senate Judiciary Committee vote, people held a silent protest in Chattanooga.

Dressed in black and holding signs people were outside near the Federal Building to show solidarity.

Some of the messages included “Stop Kavanaugh” and “I Believe Women.”

“We want to have an opportunity to let Senator Corker know that we would encourage him to vote no on this Supreme Court nominee and most importantly that we believe woman and we want to honor their stories of victims of sexual assault,” said Laura Becker, an organizer.

“We are here to say we believe woman and we believe Dr. Ford and we believe Judge Kavanaugh does not belong on the Supreme Court,” said Rachel Lesler, an organizer.

Women were not the only ones protesting.

“It is about time that women need to be believed and men need to step up and show our support for women,” said Seth Weitz, a protester.

Michelle Deardorff, the UTC Political Science Department head, says it is a rigorous process to get on the Supreme Court, but this is a little different and getting more attention than usual.

“There are normally hearings it is just under certain circumstances often that are partisan and political in nature it becomes more of a national process,” Deardoff said.

She says whatever happens with this, it may make people go out and vote.

“I think one question will be what kind of impact will this have on the midterm election and that often comes down to does this mobilize voters. Will this mobilize Democrats or will this mobilize Republicans to be more likely to come out and vote?” Deardorff said.

That is a sentiment people back at the demonstration agree with.

“I think right now, I say for people to register to vote in November, to be passionate and educated on the issues that matter to them and to be involved citizens in their communities and to stand up for those whose voices are being silenced,” Becker said.

Both Senator Lamar Alexander and Senator Bob Corker have issued statements saying they will vote for Judge Kavanaugh.