Thread by @reproaction

We're live-tweeting the #KavanaughHearings. It'll be a tough day for too many of us, so we're asking everyone to take time to care for yourself today. For some guidance, check out our webinar, "Self Esteem, Self Expression, and Self Love for Activists":

https://twitter.com/reproaction/status/1045304554726858753

Pitiful that @ChuckGrassley opens with saying that *both* Dr. Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh have had a bad couple weeks. One came forward with a painful truth, the other faced a reckoning for multiple allegations of abuse. #KavanaughHearings #BelieveSurivors

Thus begins @ChuckGrassley's cognitive dissonance regarding when, why, and how survivors come forward. We should control our stories and who they're shared with. #BelieveSurvivors #KavanaughHearings

He's right about one thing, this was a disservice to Dr. Blasey Ford. #BelieveSurvivors #KavanaughHearings

Sorry, Chuck. Biden's behavior during the Clarence Thomas hearings is not a strong point of reference. #IStillBelieveAnitaHill #BelieveSurvivors #KavanaughHearings

Grassley acknowledges the other public allegations against Kavanaugh, claims counsel for Julie Swetnick & Deborah Ramirez haven't been cooperative. Can you blame them given the treatment of Dr. Blasey Ford by Grassley and his comrades? #KavanaughHearings #BelieveSurvivors

.@ChuckGrassley interrupts @SenFeinstein saying he'd have formally introduced Dr. Blasey Ford, despite having failed to. @SenFeinstein acknowledges her impressive credentials, her strength & bravery in coming forward, & stands by her treatment of the confidential matter.

.@SenFeinstein details the corrosive trauma of sexual assault & how it plagues us for decades. She acknowledges the difficulty of coming forward even with the passage of time & how allegations are dealt with in the #MeToo era. Dr. Blasey Ford is NOT on trial. #BelieveSurvivors

.@SenFeinstein hearkens directly to the testimony of Anita Hill, and how Dr. Blasey Ford so far has been treated just as poorly. Survivors should NOT be the ones on trial. #IStillBelieveAnitaHill #BelieveSurvivors #KavanaughHearings

.@SenFeinstein calls once again for Mark Judge to be subpoenaed. He's now part of multiple allegations, not just Dr. Blasey Ford's. #KavanaughHearings #BelieveSurvivors

.@SenFeinstein admonishes her colleagues on the other side of the aisle for their insistence on moving forward at breakneck pace despite the multiple public, credible allegations. #BelieveSurvivors #KavanaughHearings

.@SenFeinstein boldly challenges Kavanaugh's assertions that he's treated women well, hasn't drank to excess, and was a well-behaved church-going teen, with receipts. #KavanaughHearings #StopKavanaugh

"This is not a trial for Dr. Ford, this is a job interview for Judge Kavanaugh." - @SenFeinstein She's exactly right. #KavanaughHearings #StopKavanaugh #BelieveSurvivors #IBelieveChristineBlaseyFord

We stand in awe of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. This testimony must be unbearable, let alone with a lack of caffeine. We love you. We stand with you.
Her full statement can be read here: documentcloud.org/documents/4945…

Dr. Blasey Ford's comment that the gathering wasn't a pre-planned event preempts Kavanaugh's eleventh hour production of his detailed high school calendars. #KavanaughHearings #BelieveSurvivors

Her alleged abuser was just apologized to in front of her, & her trauma has been equated to his by a US Senator, yet Dr. Blasey Ford's composure is remarkable. We love you. We stand with you. We'll say it a million times but it should be said a million more: We #BelieveSurvivors

Dr. Blasey Ford reiterates that @SenFeinstein promised to keep her story confidential, and she believes survivors should have control over stories of private matters. #BelieveSurvivors & affirm their wishes. #KavanaughHearings

Dr. Blasey Ford has had to hire personal security, separate from her family, receive death threats, hacking, and attempts to discredit her work and her story. This parsing & questioning is added trauma. We will fight for her and all survivors. #BelieveChristine #KavanaughHearings

Dr. Blasey Ford acknowledges that her claustrophobia is a result of the attack and has profoundly affected her life, especially in the four years after her attack and entering college. This is so common. #BelieveSurvivors

It must be acknowledged that Dr. Blasey Ford is a teacher and a clinical psychologist. She understands why this event was traumatic and deeply memorable at the chemical level. Her credentials and her memory are ironclad. We #believeher. #KavanaughHearings

The way to make this hearing truly credible is to ask the FBI to investigate her claims and the other accusers, according to @SenatorLeahy, who says the Senate failed Anita Hill. He believed her, and "we owe you a debt of gratitude for that, doctor." #BelieveSurvivors

She never forgot them laughing at her trauma. This stings for so many of us. #BelieveSurvivors

Chuck Grassley thinks it's a rude interruption when his colleague asks to see the documents that haven't been shared with them but Dr. Christine Blasey Ford has to sift through. #KavanaghHearings

.@SenatorDurbin calls again for Mark Judge to be subpoenaed. #KavanaughHearings

She is 100% sure it was Kavanaugh. She knows why Mark Judge was uncomfortable seeing her. She knows her story. We #BelieveHer. #KavanaghHearings

15 minute break. Go get some caffeine or whatever you need to do to care for yourself. #KavanaghHearings #SelfCare #BeleiveSurvivors

Grassley et al having a woman do the dirty work of poking imaginary 'holes' in Dr. Blasey Ford's testimony through her memories of personal landmarks and milestones is possibly the cruelest part. #KavanaughConfirmation #WeBelieveChristine #BelieveSurvivors

"There has been no sincere or thorough review of your claims." - @SenWhitehouse to Dr. Blasey Ford
The FBI should investigate her claims and those of Kavanaugh's other accusers. Relying on Google Maps and a trauma victim's painful testimony is a grave disservice to this process.

.@SenWhitehouse is the third Senator to call for Mark Judge to be subpoenaed, and he promises to do all in his power to give Dr. Blasey Ford a full investigation of her claims. #BelieveSurvivors #WeBelieveChristine #KavanaughHearings #StopKavanaugh

Chuck Grassley is showing his disdain for women sharing the truth. He constantly interrupts or talks over when they're correcting him or stating facts. I count his dismissal of @amyklobuchar as #4, is that correct? #KavanaughHearings #StopKavanaugh

.@amyklobuchar takes care to ask her questions in a way that doesn't express disbelief. #BelieveSurvivors #WeBelieveChristine

Grassley refuting Dr. Blasey Ford's recollection that the committee wouldn't send investigators to her in CA, and appears frustrated that @amyklobuchar requests the testimony of Mark Judge and full details of the polygraph. None of this should be necessary. #BelieveChristine

Thank you @ChrisCoons for, in the absence of testimony by sexual assault and trauma experts, submitting information to the record regarding the police's treatment of survivors and why survivors can't always come forward. #BelieveSurvivors #WeBelieveDrFord #KavanaughHearings

The idea that "boys will be boys" is toxic. Dr. Blasey Ford acknowledges that it could have a more harmful impact the younger the victim is. Bless her for being both expert and survivor in this moment. She shouldn't have to bear this burden. #BelieveSurvivors #KavanaughHearings

Dr. Blasey Ford says she "would have been happy to have hosted you" to Chuck Grassley et al. Them forcing her to demure to them is atrocious & inexcusable. #StandWithBlaseyFord #KavanaughHearings

.@SenBlumenthal thanks Dr. Blasey Ford for inspiring and enlightening the public, especially men. Says teachers & people should be grateful for what she's done. He says he believes her for a multitude of reasons. #BelieveSurvivors

.@SenBlumenthal quotes @LindseyGrahamSC: "I learned how much unexpected courage from a deep and hidden place it takes for a rape victim or sexually abused child to testify against their assailant." & says Dr. Blasey Ford deserves the country's gratitude. #BelieveSurvivors

Dr. Blasey Ford acknowledges that testimony of Mark Judge would be helpful for her recollection, and @SenBlumenthal says POTUS' denial of Mark Judge's testimony is tantamount to a cover-up. #KavanaughHearings #BelieveSurvivors

Again, Rachel Mitchell is probing into Dr. Blasey Ford's life as if she's on trial, and trying to glean what advice she's received from legal counsel. #BelieveSurvivors #KavanaughHearings

"I remember ... being asked a lot of questions and crying a lot" - so many of us have been there. So many of us don't report for this reason. We #BelieveSurvivors.
1/2 hour recess for lunch. Do something to show yourself & your comrades love. <3

.@maziehirono didn't come to play. She sees through the tactics of Rachel Mitchell, and points it out to Chuck Grassley. "This is NOT a criminal proceeding," she says. #KanavaughHearings #BelieveSurvivors

After interrupting a woman for the 5th time, Grassley says "let me not interrupt you" as @maziehirono asks to submit to the record fact sheets & documentation of experts in sexual violence. #KavanaughHearings #BelieveSurvivors

.@CoryBooker reminds everyone that this is not a court room & the great lengths Dr. Blasey Ford has gone to in order to share her story with us. He understands the gravity of his job today. #KavanaughHearings #StopKavanaugh

.@CoryBooker says Dr. Blasey Ford's courage is, "nothing short of heroic." We couldn't agree more. #StandWithBlaseyFord #WeBelieveChristine #BelieveSurvivors #StopKavanaugh #KavanaughHearings

.@CoryBooker submits various statements of support to Dr. Blasey Ford into the record, including a letter from almost 300 survivors around the country. #BelieveSurvivors

Dr. Blasey Ford will not have Grassley et al's shamelessness to drag another man's name through the mud for accusations against Kavanaugh. #KavanaughHearings #StopKavanaugh

"You are not on trial. [...] I believe you." - @KamalaHarris #BelieveSurvivors #StopKavanaugh #KavanaughHearings #StandWithBlaseyFord

.@SenKamalaHarris lays out a striking comparison between Dr. Blasey Ford's credibility and Kavanaugh's. Dr. Blasey Ford at every turn has worked to prove her story, Grassley and his cronies have obscured, dismissed, and evaded. #BelieveSurvivors #StopKavanaugh #KavanaughHearings

"You are a true profile in courage" - @SenKamalaHarris to Dr. Blasey Ford.
#BelieveSurvivors #StopKavanaugh #KavanaughHearings #StandWithBlaseyFord

Rachel Mitchell is grilling Dr. Blasey Ford for playing by the rules set by Grassley et al for how the questioning went forward. No acknowledgement of Mark Judge's lack of formal questioning. @SenFeinstein & @SenBlumenthal challenge @ChuckGrassley on it. #KavanaughHearings

"Let's just be nice" to Dr. Blasey Ford, says Grassley, as he adjourns for 45 mins. She departs to a chorus of "Thank you, Dr. Ford!" #KavanaughHearings #StandWithBlaseyFord

Kavanaugh, who's now been accused of sexual misconduct/assault by multiple women, enters the hearing room. #KavanaughHearings #StandWithBlaseyFord

Kavanaugh seems very upset/angry #KavanaughHearings

Kavanaugh claims these accusations have been "harmful to the Supreme Court." What would actually be harmful to the Supreme Court is another accused sexual assaulter sitting on SCOTUS. #StandWithBlaseyFord

Kavanaugh claims these assault accusations against him are "revenge on behalf of the Clintons"

Kavanaugh is now stating these accusations will dissuade other judges from wanting to be on the Supreme Court, which is nonsense. Judges who haven't assaulted anyone don't have to worry. #StandWithBlaseyFord

Kavanaugh is now saying that up until last week, no one accused him of sexual misconduct or assault. Except now he has been, multiple times. #StandWithBlaseyFord #StandWithSurvivors

When witnesses support what Kavanaugh says, he calls it a "fact." When witnesses support what Dr. Blasey Ford, he calls it false. #StandWithBlaseyFord

Kavanaugh's testimony would have you believe he's a victim. He's not. Worst case for him is not sitting on SCOTUS.

Worst case for Dr. Blasey Ford? Her accused assaulter decides the laws of the land for decades to come.

#StandWithBlaseyFord

Having female friends and family members does not mean you haven't sexually assaulted women. #StandWithBlaseyFord

Being a virgin does not mean you've never sexually assaulted anyone. #StandWithBlaseyFord #BelieveSurvivors

Having one "feminist" friend that supports you does not mean you've never sexually assaulted anyone. #BelieveSurvivors

Having majority women law clerks DOES NOT mean you've never sexually assaulted anyone. #StandWithBlaseyFord #BelieveSurvivors

Being a basketball coach to young women does not mean you've never sexually assaulted anyone. #StandWithBlaseyFord #BelieveSurvivors

If Kavanaugh wants "due process" as he claims he'd ask for the FBI to investigate these claims. #StandWithBlaseyFord #BelieveSurvivors

He just asked Americans to think of their fathers, brothers, and sons in light of these sexual assault accusations. Unbelievable. #BelieveSurvivors

15 minute break just started at the #KavanaughHearings

"She says (Mark Judge) was in the room then, he should be in the room now." - @SenatorLeahy

Kavanaugh refuses to say he wants Mark Judge to testify.

#StandWithSurvivors

.@SenatorLeahy states "We got a filibuster but not a single answer" from Kavanaugh

.@SenatorDurbin calling out Kavanaugh for saying he wants an investigation but not calling for an FBI investigation.

.@LindseyGrahamSC joining Kavanaugh in yelling at the female Democratic senators during this hearing

If Kavanagh thinks he's been through "hell and then some" imagine what Dr. Blasey Ford has gone through. #StandWithSurvivors

Sen. Graham yells Kavanaugh faced "not one accusation." So then why does he actually have several? #StandWithBlaseyFord

Kavanaugh insinuates that someone edited his quote in the yearbook that portrayed him as a womanizer #BelieveChristine

"My life is totally and permanently altered" says the man who's only thing to lose in this hearing a seat on the Supreme Court #StandWithBlaseyFord

"I don't mean to interrupt, I guess I am" says the man accused of several cases of sexual misconduct to the female Senator questioning him #StandWithSurvivors

After the break, Kavanaugh apologized to Senator @amyklobuchar for snapping at her. It's clear someone talked to him about how he's coming off in these hearings. #StandWithSurvivors

"Porn star lawyers...are controlling the news cycle" said Senator @OrrinHatch in disbelief. That explains how he views sex workers.

"Why NOT agree to a one week pause?" @ChrisCoons asks Kavanaugh

Male entitlement and anger is on full display in the #KavanaughConfirmationHearings

Republican Senators blame @SenFeinstein for not releasing Dr. Blasey Ford's accusation earlier.

What really happened was that from one woman to another, Sen. Feinstein kept her promise to only move forward on the accusation with Dr. Blasey Ford's consent.

#StandWithBlaseyFord

.@SenBlumenthal is CALLING OUT Kavanaugh on his claim that Dr. Blasey Ford accused him of sexual assault on behalf of the Clintons. #StopKavanaugh

Kavanaugh keeps interrupting the Democratic Senators questioning him in the #KavanaughConfirmationHearings

.@SenBlumenthal asks "Do you believe Anita Hill?"

Kavanaugh doesn't respond.

#BelieveSurivors

"There's certainly no entitlement for you to be confirmed."

Senator @maziehirono has clearly had enough.

#StopKavanaugh

"Is temperament an important factor?"

YES Senator @maziehirono!

#StopKavanaugh

"Look at my academic record" is not an answer to "were you a sloppy drunk?"

#KavanaughHearings

.@SenThomTillis states"you're the first major target of a new strategy..." He just called a survivors of sexual assault coming forward a "strategy." Awful.

He also conveniently forgets Anita Hill.

#BelieveSurvivors

Senator @CoryBooker "Do you wish she just remained silent?"

Kavanaugh avoids the question.

#StandWithBlaseyFord

"She is not part of the Clinton's efforts to get some sort of revenge" - Senator @CoryBooker

Unbelievable that this statement even needs to be made.

#StandWithChristine

Ted Cruz attempts to blame @SenFeinstein for the leaked accusation. Senator Feinstein states that she "held it confidential until she decided that she would come forward."

"I was asked to keep it confidential and I'm criticized for that too" - @SenFeinstein

The hearing is still going on, but we're signing off for the night. We'll be back tomorrow at 9:30 am EST for the committee vote that is still scheduled.

To all the survivors out there, we stand with you. #BelieveSurvivors