“The View” co-host Sunny Hostin is arguing that protests outside the homes of Supreme Court justices might provide “leverage” to influence an opinion on a major abortion case.
During a segment of the show Monday, the hosts discussed protests that occurred outside the homes of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh over the weekend.
Hostin weighed as she noted it was reported that Justice Samuel Alito — who penned a leaked draft opinion that appears to show the court is poised to overturn Roe v.Wade — had to “go into hiding” due to the backlash.
“While I think it is terrible that a justice would have to go into hiding, I think it is really clear to the justices now that…64% to 66% of Americans believe that the Supreme Court should uphold Roe v. Wade,” Hostin said.t
She continued, “And so that being said, maybe these protests, and maybe this outcry, gives Chief Justice Roberts some leverage for a more moderate approach because we saw during the hearing that he was looking for a way, a moderate way, to handle this case.”
Watch the video below:
Sunny Hostin touts protests at the justices' homes because it makes "really clear" to them what the left wants and hopes it gives "leverage" to Roberts.
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) May 9, 2022
She also claims the justices are against the right to peacefully protest. pic.twitter.com/zjEFWSSEqR
Hostin went on:
“And I just think when you have the Supreme Court justices like Clarence Thomas coming out this weekend and saying at the 11th Circuit Judicial Conference that they will not be bullied and that people need to live with outcomes they don’t agree with…And that other justices are saying you have no right to stand and freely protest — peacefully protest outside of our homes. We have a right to privacy. Well, women have a right to privacy as well, and women have a right to privacy with their bodies.”
As she spoke, co-host Joy Behar chimed in, “Tell that to Donald Trump.”
“And I’m just shocked that that’s what we’re hearing from men, that’s what we’re hearing from the justices, that’s what we’re hearing from Republicans that people don’t have a right to protest this draft opinion when the Supreme Court has found that you have a right to protest in front of abortion clinics, that there can be no buffer zone. The hypocrisy is incredible,” Hostin added.
Over the weekend, protesters gathered outside of the homes of Roberts and Kavanaugh.
The New York Post notes that it is not known if the justices or their families were home at the time of the protests.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki reacted to protesters who gathered outside of the homes of justices.
.@POTUS strongly believes in the Constitutional right to protest. But that should never include violence, threats, or vandalism. Judges perform an incredibly important function in our society, and they must be able to do their jobs without concern for their personal safety.
— Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) May 9, 2022
In a tweet Monday, she wrote, “[President Joe Biden] strongly believes in the Constitutional right to protest.”
“But that should never include violence, threats, or vandalism. Judges perform an incredibly important function in our society, and they must be able to do their jobs without concern for their personal safety,” she added.