Kamala Harris and her husband visit RBG memorial outside the Supreme Court where they pay tribute to the 'titan' after hundreds of mourners packed the steps to sing and clap during a candlelight vigil following her death
Vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris joined hundreds of mourners outside the Supreme Court as she paid tribute to 'titan' and 'legal mind of the ages' Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
The U.S. Senator and her husband Douglas Emhoff on Saturday stopped by a makeshift memorial outside the steps of the high court in Washington D.C. where the veteran judge served for 27 years before her death on Friday.
The site is now blanketed with a collection of flowers, homemade cardboard signs and prayer candles left by hundreds of mourners who visited the steps of the court to pay their respects in the wake of her passing.
Harris shared a photo of her visit on Twitter, calling the Supreme Court justice 'a titan—a relentless defender of justice and a legal mind for the ages.'
'The stakes of this election couldn't be higher. Millions of Americans are counting on us to win and protect the Supreme Court—for their health, for their families, and for their rights,' Harris said.
It comes after President Trump announced he will nominate a replacement for Ginsburg 'without delay', setting up an extraordinary confirmation battle in the Senate just weeks before the election.
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Kamala Harris and her husband Douglas Emhoff on Saturday stopped by a makeshift memorial outside the steps of the Supreme Court to pay tribute to late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
The Democratic vice presidential nominee dressed comfortably and wore a mask during her visit to the high court
Harris shared a photo of her visit on Twitter remembering Ginsburg as a 'relentless defender of justice.'
Mourners stopped by the Supreme Court early Saturday to pay their respects to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died after a battle with pancreatic cancer on Friday
Scores of people laid flowers, prayer candles and condolence messages to the late justice outside of the high court
The Supreme Court Justice passed away in her home in Washington, D.C. on Friday, after a battle with metastatic pancreas cancer
Flowers and tribute signs lined the sidewalk outside of the Supreme Court, where Ginsburg served for 27 years
Ginsburg, who had battled several bouts of cancer after first being diagnosed in 2009, finally succumbed to metastatic pancreas cancer Friday evening surrounded by her family at her home in Washington D.C.
Hundreds of people packed the steps of the Supreme Court on Friday night and the street across from the U.S. Capitol as they sang and wept together during a candlelight vigil.
The impromptu nighttime memorial was held shortly after news of her passing broke, which triggered an outpouring of tributes from both sides of the political spectrum.
President Donald Trump issued a proclamation directing that flags at the White House and all public buildings and grounds and military facilities be flown at half-staff until the late Justice Ginsburg is interred.
During the memorial, dozens of people wearing protective masks sat on the steps quietly reflecting on Ginsburg's legacy, while others knelt to leave bouquets of flowers, small American flags and photos of the justice.
Several times, dozens in the crowd broke out into song, singing 'Amazing Grace' and 'This Land is Your Land' as others embraced one another and wiped tears from their eyes.
At one point, the crowd broke into a thunderous applause - lasting for about a minute - for Ginsburg.
'Thank you RBG,' one sign read. On the sidewalk, 'RBG' was drawn inside a pink chalk heart.
Jennifer Berger, 37, said she felt compelled to join the large crowd that gathered to pay tribute to Ginsburg's life.
'I think it is important for us to recognize such a trailblazer,' she said. 'It is amazing to see how many people are feeling this loss tonight and saying goodbye.'
Visitors were seen breaking down in tears as they mourned the loss of the veteran justice
Mourners left hundreds of handwritten messages as well as 'RBG' merch that had become popular among young people in recent years
On Friday, hundreds packed the steps of the Supreme Court as they held an impromptu candlelight vigil for Ginsburg
Many were seen singing and weeping as they reflected on Ginsburg's legacy. She spent her final years on the bench as the unquestioned leader of the court's liberal wing and became something of a rock star to her admirers
People gather to mourn the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the steps in front of the Supreme Court on September 18
Ginsburg spent her final years on the bench as the unquestioned leader of the court's liberal wing and became something of a rock star to her admirers.
Young women especially seemed to embrace the court's Jewish grandmother, affectionately calling her the 'Notorious RBG', for her defense of the rights of women and minorities.
The memorial service remained mostly peaceful and somber, but turned tense for several minutes after a man with a megaphone approached people in the crowd and began to chant that 'Roe v. Wade is dead,' a reference to the landmark Supreme Court ruling establishing abortion rights nationwide.
A large group confronted the man, leading to a brief shouting match.
Many in the crowd began yelling 'RBG' to try to drown out the man's voice as he continued to say Republicans would push to quickly appoint a conservative justice to the court.
Supreme Court police officers stood alongside the crowd and the man eventually left the area.
Ginsburg had notably won over the country's younger generation, as the unquestioned leader of the court's liberal wing
A woman was overcome with emotion during the memorial service on Friday night
Several times, dozens in the crowd broke out into song, singing 'Amazing Grace' and 'This Land is Your Land' as others embraced one another and wiped tears from their eyes
The memorial service remained mostly peaceful and somber
Ginsburg's death paves the way for Donald Trump to expand his conservative majority on the Supreme Court ahead of November's election.
The leader of the court's four-member liberal wing had voiced concerns about the political impact of her passing in the days leading up to her death.
'My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed,' the legal pioneer said in a statement dictated to her granddaughter Clara Spera days before her death.
President Trump was on stage in Minnesota when the Justice's death was announced and had carried on with his campaign rally apparently unaware of the news.
He was later asked about her death by reporters, Trump said: 'She just died? Wow. I didn't know that, you're telling me now for the first time.'
He then paused and held his hands in the air before paying tribute to Ginsburg - who he had a fraught relationship with since he moved in to the White House.
'She led an amazing life. What else can you say? She was an amazing woman whether you agreed with or not. She was an amazing who led an amazing life.
'I'm actually sad to hear that. I'm sad to hear that,' he said, before he turned and walked toward his jet.
A man kneels as he brings a megaphone to a vigil on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court following the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in Washington
On the sidewalk, 'RBG' was drawn inside a pink chalk heart. Other messages thanked the Supreme Court Justice for her service to the country
Young women especially seemed to embrace the court's Jewish grandmother, affectionately calling her the 'Notorious RBG', for her defense of the rights of women and minorities
A man plays the violin as people gather outside of the U.S. Supreme Court for a nighttime memorial for RBG
Meanwhile the White House flag was lowered to half staff and his Chief of Staff Mark Meadows tweeted a tribute to the 'trailblazer' and 'dedicated public servant'.
Trump later tweeted a longer statement, describing Ginsburg as a 'titan of the law' whose legal expertise and historic decisions inspired generations of Americans.
'Today, our nation mourns the loss of a titan of the law' who was 'renowned for her brilliant mind and her powerful dissents at the Supreme Court,' Trump said, after the rally in Minnesota.
'Her opinions, including well-known decisions regarding the legal equality of women and the disabled, have inspired all Americans, and generations of great legal minds,' he added.
'May her memory be a great and magnificent blessing to the world.'
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died aged 87 after a battle with metastatic pancreas cancer. She is pictured at one of her last public appearances in February.
He did not mention plans for nominating a replacement.
Chief Justice John Roberts paid tribute to his colleague Friday describing her as a 'champion of justice'.
'Our nation has lost a justice of historic stature,' Roberts said in a statement.
'We at the Supreme Court have lost a cherished colleague. Today we mourn but with confidence that future generations will remember Ruth Bader Ginsburg as we knew her, a tired and resolute champion of justice.'
Former presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, George Bush and Jimmy Carter all voiced their tributes, along with politicians including Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo voiced their tributes.
The White House lowered its flags to half staff and social media users pointed out that in Jewish tradition, a person who dies on Rosh Hashanah - which started tonight - is regarded as a person of great righteousness.