As protests outside the Supreme Court Justice’s homes continue, even Democrats are calling for an end, as Jeffrey C. McKay, a Democrat on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, argued in a Washington Post opinion piece on Monday that protesting outside private homes “will almost certainly have the opposite effect” of what the protesters want.
According to Fox, McKay said that while public officials often make themselves available to their constituents, their private homes are where they spend time with family and recharge. The local Virginia Democrat argued that “the most appropriate venue for this to happen” is “at the public institution where policies are introduced, debated and ultimately agreed to or rejected. This is where we listen and where we act.”
“I understand the idea that protesters want to bring literally to our doorsteps their anger and frustrations, but I can also tell you from personal and professional experience that will almost certainly have the opposite effect of what they may be seeking,” he wrote.
He also looked at the legality of whether the protests outside homes and “whether it is an appropriate or effective tactic.”
Following the bombshell news that the Supreme Court was planning to overturn Roe v. Wade, pro-choice protesters began leading marches outside the homes of Justices Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, and Chief Justice Roberts. Nearly every top Virginia GOP repressive has called for these protests, including statements from Governor Youngkin, Attorney General Miyares, and Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears.
Youngkin teamed up with Maryland Governor Hogan to pen a letter to U.S. Attorney General Garland, asking him to “provide adequate resources to keep the Supreme Court justices and their families safe amid ongoing protests at their homes.”
Today, @GovernorVA and I sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland calling on the Department of Justice to provide adequate resources to keep the Supreme Court justices and their families safe amid ongoing protests at their homes. pic.twitter.com/6D0bMGSp3q
— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) May 11, 2022
Myares and Sears both went on Fox News for their calls to action. Attorney General Jason Miyares made calls for Hogan to “Do your job”, in regards to helping secure the Justices from the harassment of the protestors, while Sears also posted a statement calling on state officials to take action.
Silence doesn't guarantee safety. The mob may come for you. The Commonwealth Attorney has the power to prosecute the individuals picketing and protesting outside the homes of SCOTUS Justices. The Commonwealth Attorney is supposed to enforce the law. #everforward #LG42 #Winsome pic.twitter.com/UkkTJmXGva
— Lt. Governor of Virginia – Winsome Earle-Sears (@WinsomeSears) May 11, 2022
As of now, no action has been taken by the federal government to add any additional safety for the Supreme Court justices facing harassment at their homes.