John,

This week, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson made history when she was confirmed as the first Black woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court in its 232-year history. On behalf of the Arizona AFL-CIO, I am proud to congratulate Judge Brown Jackson on this historic accomplishment.

Upon celebrating this moment, I find myself reflecting on our country’s painful history. It’s important to remember that at the time of the supreme court’s establishment, there were more than one million enslaved people living in the United States, at a time when our nation’s population was a mere five million.

I need not remind our readers how the glaring lack of diversity and absence of perspective on the supreme court has upheld institutional racism in this country. Dred Scott v. Sandford (1856) ruled that the Bill of Rights did not apply to Black people. Korematsu v. United States (1944) upheld President Roosevelt’s executive order 9066 and allowed for the continued internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. And in 2013, the supreme court allowed for the gutting of the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder, leaving millions of voters in Black and Brown communities vulnerable to disenfranchisement.

Ketanji Brown Jackson overcame immeasurable institutional barriers to become one of only nine people to serve on our nation’s highest court, and her confirmation is a huge victory for working people. As we celebrate the significance of her confirmation, we must also remain committed to calling out and uprooting racism, in our institutions, our communities, and our workplaces.

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita
Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

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Help Reinstate Fired Union Organizer to Phoenix Starbucks

Starbucks Supervisor and union organizer Laila Dalton a was unjustly fired on April 4th, causing her to lose her Starbucks college tuition benefits. Help support Laila in her fight for reinstatement so she can reclaim her ASU Benefits.

Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmed as first Black woman on US supreme court

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NEW BLOG POST
Women's History Month: Interview with Dolores Huerta

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