NYC Women Find Solace in Communal Rage During Kavanaugh Hearing

The mood in the fifth floor conference room of The Wing in SoHo was attentive and grave. Women gathered around the television, often passing around tissues or giving each other gentle hugs, as psychology professor Dr. Christine Blasey Ford told her story to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"I made myself get out of the house on time so I could be here before 10:00, because I wanted to watch it in a room full of women," said Jenny Listman, 48, a data science consultant.

Many women said they came to the space specifically to find a supportive, cathartic space to watch Ford testify. The professor says Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in high school at an alcohol-fueled party. Kavanaugh denies the charge, along with the accounts of several other women who have accused him of sexual misconduct.

Watching Ford recount her memories and answer questions from the committee was difficult, and strikingly personal, some women there said.

"I think for so many women, we just know exactly how she feels," said Listman. "I almost wish I could transmit some kind of energy to her, to help her get through this."

One woman physically recoiled when Ford was asked personal questions by the committee, or by the female prosecutor whom Senate Republicans hired to conduct some of the questioning. She said it was "cringe-worthy" to see Ford picked apart on national television. But many remarked at Ford's ability to hold her ground.

"I didn't know what to expect going into it, in terms of her composure," said Melanie Altarescu, who works at The Wing. "She completely blew me away. Her strength, her grace, her humanity. It's pretty remarkable."

For some, the weight of Ford and Kavanaugh's testimonies is compounded by the looming Senate vote on whether or not to confirm President Donald Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court. Some women voiced dismay at the partisan divide that has defined the run up to the nomination. Others were dejected at the idea that Kavanaugh may still be confirmed, despite Ford's testimony. 

Still, Altaraescu says she finds comfort in the power of the collective rage she sees women expressing.

"I think the anger that we as women collectively feel can be channeled into something incredibly powerful, and a force for change," she said.

The Senate plans to vote on Kavanaugh's confirmation Friday morning.