Hundreds of people gathered on the steps of the United States Supreme Court on Monday night to protest President Trump’s nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, and Fox News’ Shannon Bream aborted a live broadcast on location because she said she didn’t feel it was safe.
“Very few times I’ve felt threatened while out in the field. The mood here tonight is very volatile,” Bream tweeted later that night. “Law enforcement appears to be closing down 1st Street in front of SCOTUS.”
She went on to say that the network’s team had changed its original coverage plans and moved to a studio location instead of remaining outside the Supreme Court building.
“Literally had to bail on our live show from #SCOTUS. Moving the show back to the safety of the studio. See y’all at 11p,” Bream wrote. A representative for Fox News emphasized that Bream did not cancel coverage but moved it in-studio.
Literally had to bail on our live show from #SCOTUS. Moving the show back to the safety of the studio. See y’all at 11p @FoxNews https://t.co/ChIOQdBBTU
— Shannon Bream (@ShannonBream) July 10, 2018
The protest was in response to Trump’s announcement that he has nominated appeals court judge Kavanaugh to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant by outgoing justice Anthony Kennedy.
The 53-year-old Yale Law School graduate has served on the D.C. appeals court since 2006, having been nominated by George W. Bush in 2003. Kavanaugh previously served in the Bush administration advising on the selection of judicial nominees, and worked for the Bush campaign during the 2000 Florida recount. In the 1990s, he worked with independent counsel Kenneth Starr in the investigation that eventually led to the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.
Trump’s pick will likely establish a 5-4 conservative majority on the court — which could shape the court for generations — and it encouraged a crowd to quickly gather following the 9 p.m. ET announcement.
Holding up signs such as “Protect Roe Save SCOTUS,” the protesters chanted “Hey Hey, Ho Ho, Kavanaugh has got to go,” according to USA Today.
Sen. Bernie Sanders told the people assembled that they should be ready to challenge the nomination. “Are you ready for a fight? Are you ready to defend Roe vs. Wade?” he said. “This is a tough fight but it is a fight that we can win … We have the American people on our side. Now we have to go state by state by state to make sure senators do what their constituents want.”
For the record: A previous version of this story incorrectly suggested that Shannon Bream canceled coverage of the protests.