WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Lines have been drawn, after President Trump announced his nominee for the Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh, to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Protesters shouting their disapproval on the steps of the Supreme Court Monday night were joined by a number of Democratic Senators, including Jeff Merkley of Oregon. He says he’s worried about the future of reproductive rights, healthcare and marriage equality. And, Merkley claims, “racial inequality and blatant voter suppression could be further embraced by the highest court in the land.” He said in a statement, "The justices of the Supreme Court should be selected based on the wisdom, experience and values they bring to the job, not hand-picked by ideological organizations committed to rolling back the ability of women, minorities, workers and consumers to participate fully and freely in society. To safeguard the rights of all Americans and our founding vision of a 'We the People' nation, Americans must rise up and make their voices heard in the U.S. Senate."

Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) issued a statement expressing grave concerns about the President's nomination, "Tonight the president begins a forced march back to the days when women's health care choices were made by the government." He went on to say, "There can be no mistaking Trump's Supreme Court nomination for anything but what it is: a direct attempt to overturn Roe v. Wade. American women could lose the right to chart the courses of their own lives, finding their futures are determined by the whims of fanatical state legislators and the availability of contraception. Make no mistake: we will go back to those days."