In light of the decision, social media activists have been reportedly sending coat hangers to the office of Sen. Collins in a symbolic message about anti-abortion policies. The hashtag campaign #HangersForCollins seems to have started late last week, with users sharing screenshots of online shopping carts with coat hangers with the intention of mailing them to the senator.
Shower these on her doorstep
— David Adjmi (@dadjmi) June 29, 2018
Each Supreme Court justice needs 51 votes to be confirmed, which means Democrats would need only one Republican to side against the nominee, assuming all Democrats vote accordingly. In an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Collins insisted she “would not support a nominee who demonstrated hostility to Roe v. Wade.” However, Collins did confirm Neil Gorsuch, a Trump pick who has a history of voting against women’s reproductive rights, including his recent decision to vote for “crisis pregnancy centers,” which convince women to carry pregnancies to term.
Considering that the conservative Federalist Society is approving all Trump’s picks for the spot, it’s likely any candidate chosen will be against abortion. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), another Republican senator who has mostly been a supporter of abortion rights, will also play a crucial role in whether the Senate confirms Kennedy’s replacement.
The coat hangers activists are sending to Susan Collins refers to a method of illegal abortion, a sobering reminder of what could happen if Roe v. Wade is overturned. The office of the senator will be receiving a loud and clear message over the next few weeks.