SPLC Statement on the Passing of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

WASHINGTON — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, an epic figure in American history and a champion of women’s rights and reproductive justice, passed from complications related to pancreatic cancer on Friday. She was 87.

Southern Poverty Law Center President and CEO Margaret Huang issued the following statement:

“Today, our country has lost a monumental and transformative figure. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was not only a trailblazer, a hero, and a singular inspiration, she was also a deeply principled person who demonstrated great courage and conviction throughout her entire legal career.

“At the time of her appointment in 1993, Justice Ginsburg was only the second woman to be seated on the U.S. Supreme Court, but it wasn’t her first time in the Court. As director of the Women’s Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union, she argued and won five cases before the Justices. And from her first term, she made it her mission to guarantee equal protection for women and other marginalized communities. We are eternally grateful for her decades of work – and landmark achievements – in pursuit of this essential goal.

“In her later years, she became an icon for a younger generation. Her resolute determination for justice inspired millions, including all of us at the Southern Poverty Law Center. With her countless accomplishments in mind and some of her courage in our hearts, we recommit ourselves to continuing her mission to achieve justice and equity for all.”

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