THOUSANDS OF COLORADANS OPPOSE ROBERTS’ NOMINATION
September 21, 2005 SENATORS SALAZAR AND ALLARD URGED TO OPPOSE
NOMINEE WHO THREATENS PERSONAL LIBERTIESDenver, CO — Today NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado, the state’s leading advocate for personal privacy and a woman’s right to choose, delivered over 8,000 signatures from Colorado citizens to the state office of Senator Ken Salazar asking him to oppose John Roberts’ nomination for Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Citizens and legislators joined NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado at the state capitol for a press conference before the petition signatures were delivered. Melinda Gonzales, a native Coloradan from the San Luis Valley, spoke to reporters as well as dozens of people gathered in opposition to the Roberts nomination. “As a young, Latina woman from Colorado, I am one of thousands who oppose the nomination of Judge Roberts for Chief Justice. I am extremely concerned about the future of the Supreme Court.” Gonzales continued, “I cannot stand by and let this generation have fewer rights than our mothers and grandmothers had, including the right to privacy.” State Representative Anne McGihon also addressed the crowd. “The decisions Judge Roberts could make as Chief Justice could have a lasting, devastating impact on the health of women for years to come,” said Representative McGihon. “As a state representative, I am here to remind you that if Roe v. Wade were ever overturned – something that Judge Roberts has advocated strongly for – the decision would go back to the states. Here in Colorado, we have had bills introduced every year for a decade that would ban or severely restrict a woman’s right to choose,” added Representative McGihon. Jessie Danielson, Political Director for NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado, stated, “The thousands of Coloradans who signed the petitions we will deliver today want our senators to stand up for the culture of freedom and personal responsibility we have come to cherish by voting no to John Roberts’ nomination.” Danielson continued, “We are visiting our Senator’s office to ensure that discussion of the issues of our fundamental freedoms, including the right to privacy, are not confined to a hearing room in Washington.” Following the brief press conference at the state capitol the group, lead by Representative McGihon and leaders at NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado, delivered petition signatures to Senator Salazar’s office in Denver. More than 8,000 signatures were collected from Colorado residents, which are part of 135,000 signatures collected nation-wide to a petition urging U.S. senators to oppose the nomination of John Roberts for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. ###
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