Newly confirmed Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett was appointed this week to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court, cementing a conservative majority, and Girl Scouts of the USA congratulated her — before deleting its post.
“Congratulations Amy Coney Barrett on becoming the 5th woman appointed to the Supreme Court since its inception in 1789,” the since-deleted tweet read.
The post also included images of female Supreme Court justices: former associate justice Sandra Day O’Connor, late associate justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and associate justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagen.
Barrett is succeeding Ginsburg, and her confirmation was anything but bipartisan. Democrats criticized Republican lawmakers and the president for pushing forward her nomination so close to the 2020 presidential election.
Official @girlscouts have deleted this tweet 👀👀 pic.twitter.com/lvyn550yIr
— Jon Levine (@LevineJonathan) October 28, 2020
The Girl Scouts’ deleted tweet comes after backlash, as some criticized the organization for congratulating Barrett, including Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.).
“What kind of patch does one earn for uplifting a woman who is the antithesis of justice?” Pressley tweeted Wednesday evening.
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
Walking back on its remarks, Girl Scouts tweeted, “Earlier today, we shared a post highlighting the five women who have been appointed to the Supreme Court. It was quickly viewed as a political and partisan statement which was not our intent and we have removed the post.”
The organization added, “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 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
Deleting the tweet drew a reaction from journalist Megyn Kelly, who tweeted, “This is pathetic [Girl Scouts].
“It’s not ‘partisan’ to generically congratulate the 5th woman ever to join the High Court. It’s patriotic,” Kelly added. “Taking your tweet down *is* partisan, however, and a real disappointment.”
