On Jan. 10, as United States Supreme Court candidate Samuel Alito dealt with Senate Judiciary Committee hearings, the nominee was the subject of a derisive rally held at Thompson Center Plaza in Chicago's Loop.
During last week's question-and-answer sessions, Alito deflected inquiries regarding his thoughts about such topics as abortion. There was also some controversy concerning his membership in the defunct organization known as Concerned Citizens of Princeton, from where he graduated in 1972. ( The group was known for opposing the opening of the school to women and more minorities. Alito said that he could not recall being in the organization. )
At the rally, one passerby muttered that Alito had all the votes he needed and would be confirmed anyway. However, the other voices in the vociferous and sizeable crowd cheered any statement that referred to Alito's possible rejection and booed references to his past actions.
Among the speakers—who represented a variety of organizations—was Jennifer Bishop of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and the Million Mom March. She told the crowd that the judicial candidate is nicknamed 'Machine Gun Sammy' in Washington, D.C., because 'if he had his way, machine guns would be legal in the United States today' and that he has even been condemned by Republican officials for 'right-wing judicial activism.' Tracy Fischman of Planned Parenthood mentioned some of Alito's thoughts and actions concerning abortion, including a 1992 decision in which he was the lone judge to uphold Pennsylvania's spousal notification requirement.
Citizen Action of Illinois' William McNary, a dynamic speaker, lauded the rally attendees as 'aggressive progressives' and said that Bush wasted a chance 'to unite this nation and choose a Justice who would be fair for the courts and the country.' McNary then pointed out a recent newspaper headline in which Alito commented that he believed a judge cannot have an agenda. 'Well ... that line might've worked with [ former nominee and current Chief Justice ] John Roberts because we didn't know what his agenda was. But that line won't work with Samuel Alito; we know what his agenda is.'
The Illinois Coalition for Fair Courts hosted the event.