Tiktok user, @ogofthehrc, made a short video admitting to having “sinful” thoughts concerning Supreme court justice, Clarence Thomas. Many have called her out on it and find it especially offensive because she is a white woman who is allegedly wishing death on a black man.
Clarence Thomas, the only African American currently seating on the supreme court bench, was hospitalized on Friday after experiencing flu-like symptoms which was later confirmed to be an infection according to the top court’s statement on Sunday.
Clarence Thomas is an American lawyer who serves as an associate justice of the U.S Supreme Court. He was nominated by President George W. Bush to succeed Thurgood Marshall and has served since 1991. Thomas is the second African-American to serve on the Court, after Marshall. Since 2018, Thomas has been the senior associate justice, the longest-serving member of the Court, with a tenure of 30 years, 148 days as of March 20, 2022.
During Thomas senate confirmation hearing in 1990, he was accused of sexual harassment by his subordinate, Anita Hill. She accused him of making sexual and romantic advances to her and did not stop even when she asked him to. He denied all allegations. He claimed that Anita and all her witnesses and supporters made up the allegations to prevent a black conservative from being appointed to the court. The senate confirmed Thomas despite these allegations by a vote of 52-48.
This widely publicized case (which inspired a movie and documentary), may well be the reason why he may not popular amongst many who believe the allegations against him, despite him winning the case. Racial prejudice may also be contributing factor. He is also perceived as the most conservative member of the U.S Supreme court bench and this makes him unpopular with the liberals.
It is however, not morally justifiable to mock anyone who is sick for any reason, many have had to point out. The tiktok user got backlash for her post, especially from conservatives. They believe that she is a representation of the values of the liberals who do not care who gets harmed as long as their ideals are accomplished. Others also pointed out the hypocrisy of liberals and conservatives, stating that both sides were fond of wishing death upon members of either side.