Girl Scouts spark backlash from left after congratulating Justice Amy Coney Barrett
The Girl Scouts deleted a tweet late Wednesday congratulating Justice Amy Coney Barrett for being the fifth woman named to the Supreme Court after social media backlash primarily from the left, with the decision to delete the post also sparking outrage.
“Congratulations Amy Coney Barrett on becoming the 5th woman appointed to the Supreme Court since its inception in 1789,” the 108-year-old organization wrote in a tweet that included pictures of the four other women to sit on the high court: Sandra Day O’Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.
The post was also shared on the organization’s Facebook page with a note saying, “Girl Scouts of the USA is a nonpolitical, nonpartisan organization.”
“We are neither red nor blue, but Girl Scout GREEN. We are here to lift up girls and women,” it continued. “If you would like to debate partisan politics—keep scrolling.”
Backlash from progressives, including from Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), quickly ensued, prompting the deletion.
Official @girlscouts have deleted this tweet pic.twitter.com/lvyn550yIr
— Jon Levine (@LevineJonathan) October 28, 2020
What kind of patch does one earn for uplifting a woman who is the antithesis of justice? https://t.co/Z7TfkymPfL
— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) October 28, 2020
Thank you, @girlscouts, for deleting your Tweet praising the Amy Comey Barret, the reason today’s Girl Scouts won’t have access to health care, equal pay or any of the other rights we take for granted.
Still skipping your cookies over this shameful decision.
— Brianna Wu (@BriannaWu) October 28, 2020
I’m a social media manager and my advice to your social media managers is: read the room next time.
You owe every queer Girl Scout, every Black Girl Scout, every Hispanic Girl Scout, and many more an apology.
There are many ways to uplift and empower girls. This was not it.
— Kate (@librarian_kate) October 28, 2020
The Girl Scouts explained in removing the post that it “was quickly viewed as a political and partisan statement which was not our intent.”
Girl Scouts of the USA is a nonpolitical, nonpartisan organization. We are neither red nor blue, but Girl Scout GREEN. We are here to lift up girls and women.
— Girl Scouts (@girlscouts) October 28, 2020
After the posts were deleted, the organization received additional backlash for bowing to what many described as a social media mob, with journalist Megyn Kelly calling the decision “pathetic.”
This is pathetic @girlscouts. It’s not “partisan” to generically congratulate the 5th woman ever to join the High Court. It’s patriotic. Taking your tweet down *is* partisan, however, and a real disappointment. https://t.co/ecct6oU8O4
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) October 29, 2020
The Girl Scouts deleted their Tweet congratulating Amy Coney Barrett on becoming the fifth woman seated on the Supreme Court because the blue checkmark brigade was mad at them. pic.twitter.com/kQVmL9LFru
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) October 29, 2020
I thought the Girl Scouts was about female empowerment? Y’all lost your way a long time ago but this is a new low. Wow. https://t.co/gKbAbtg3OL
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) October 29, 2020
The Hill has reached out to the Girls Scouts of America for comment.
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