Both anti-abortion and abortion rights advocates gathered Saturday morning outside the Portland office of Maine Sen. Susan Collins, who is considered a possible swing vote in the confirmation process of Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh.The Portland rally was a stop for the anti-abortion group "Students for Life," on a tour to several states, during which they aim to put pressure on key senators in the nomination process.
Abigail Young works with Students for Life and helped to organize the event.
“Students for Life and the pro-life generation feel that Kavanaugh will be a very fair and unbiased judge on the Supreme Court, and we think that he has very pro-life and family values, and that he will uphold — to overturn Roe vs. Wade,” says Young.
Kavanaugh, a conservative judge from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, is considered fundamental in swaying the Court’s leanings, and could help to overturn the court's landmark abortion rights decision, Roe v. Wade.
Amy Gaidis is a member of the International Socialist Organization, which helped to organize the counter-demonstration to the Students For Life rally.
"They are here because they believe Brett Kavanaugh is going to overturn Roe v. Wade, and we agree with them on that,” said Gaidis. “We think Brett Kavanuagh is a nominee who is hostile to a woman’s right to choose and who will absolutely, when he has the opportunity, if not overturn Roe. Vs Wade, continue to chip away at access to abortion and reproductive healthcare that women rely on."
Collins has said in the past that she considers Roe "settled law."
Confirmation hearings for Kavanaugh are set to begin the day after Labor Day.
This story was originally published Aug. 11, 2018 at 1:56 p.m. ET.
