Death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, died from complications of metastatic pancreatic cancer on September 18, 2020, at age 87. Her death caused an immediate reaction from the public; a vigil at the Supreme Court plaza in Washington, D.C., was held the same evening
Health and death
Ginsburg had previously been diagnosed with colon cancer, which was in remission by 1999, and early-stage pancreatic cancer in 2009. In 2014, she had surgery to implant a stent. Tumors in her lungs were detected in December 2018 while she was being treated for broken ribs from a fall. Ginsburg died from complications of metastatic pancreatic cancer on September 18, 2020, at age 87. According to her granddaughter Clara Spera (an attorney), days before her death, she dictated to her a statement which reads in part: "My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed."
Memorials and vigils
Hundreds of people began gathering in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., within hours following the news of her death. The was recited by mourners, along with songs such as "Amazing Grace" and "America the Beautiful", and a liberal Jewish commentator referred to her as a tzadeikes, or a person of great righteousness. Additional gatherings were held in cities across the U.S. Online memorials were created on different social media platforms. By the next morning, a makeshift memorial had been created on the steps of the Court.
On September 19, the tributes at the Supreme Court were removed and a barricade erected before the building.
Memorials and vigils were also held in cities across the United States, including:
* Abingdon, Virginia
* Albany, New York
* Albuquerque, New Mexico
* Asheville, North Carolina
* Belleville, Illinois
* Bridgehampton, New York
* Boulder, Colorado
* Burlington, Vermont
* Cedar Rapids, Iowa
* Charleston, South Carolina
* Charlottesville, Virginia
* Chicago, Illinois
* Corning, New York
* Davenport, Iowa
* Fort Lauderdale, Florida
* Frankfort, Kentucky
* Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
* Hamilton, Montana
* Hartford, Connecticut
* Jacksonville, Florida
* Kearney, Nebraska
* Le Roy, New York
* Lebanon, New Hampshire
* Los Angeles, California
* Midland, Michigan
* Minneapolis, Minnesota
* Missoula, Montana
* Morgantown, West Virginia
* Nashville, Tennessee
* New London, Connecticut
* Piedmont Triad
* Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Portland, Oregon
* Providence, Rhode Island
* Reno, Nevada
* Rockford, Illinois
* Sacramento, California
* Salt Lake City, Utah
* San Antonio, Texas
* San Diego, California
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* San Luis Obispo, California
* Santa Rosa, California
* Seattle, Washington
* Sioux City, Iowa
* Spencer, Iowa
* Springfield, Illinois
* St. Paul, Minnesota.
* Tulsa, Oklahoma
* Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
* Yorkville, Illinois Across the state of New York, landmarks were lit in blue as a tribute to Ginsburg. These included the One World Trade Center, Grand Central Terminal, Kosciuszko Bridge, Niagara Falls, and Mid-Hudson Bridge. Hundreds of people attended vigils in Chicago, Kingston, New York, Portland, Maine, Minneapolis and San Francisco. In the state of Minnesota, Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis and Mayor Melvin Carter of St. Paul issued a proclamation declaring September 21 to be "Ruth Bader Ginsburg Day" in their respective cities In the hours following news of her death, more than $20million was donated to various Democratic politicians via ActBlue, more than quintuple the previous record amount. Around $80million was donated through ActBlue within 24 hours of her death. Ginsburg's legal career was highlighted by legal figures including Chief Justice John Roberts who called her a "jurist of historic stature", stating that the Supreme Court had lost a cherished colleague and also had confidence that future generations would remember her as a "tireless and resolute champion of justice."
Her death was announced while both President Donald Trump and presidential candidate Joe Biden were campaigning in Minnesota, with Trump holding a speech during his rally and Biden on a campaign plane flying back to Wilmington, Delaware, with spotty WiFi-connection. As a result, both men did not make statements immediately after the news was announced; after the speech concluded, Trump was heading towards Air Force One when he made a statement, and after Biden landed at New Castle Airport he too made a statement. Trump, hearing about Ginsburg's death for the first time, said Ginsburg "was an amazing woman who led an amazing life". Biden told reporters that her death was "very sad news" and highlighted the need to choose a successor after the election.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi of the House of Representatives used Twitter to express her sympathy, saying that Ginsburg's death was "an incalculable loss for our democracy and for all who sacrifice and strive to build a better future for our children". Pelosi also ordered flags at the U.S. Capitol to be flown at half-staff in honor of Ginsburg. On September 19, Trump ordered all U.S. flags at federal buildings to be flown at half-staff until Ginsburg's burial. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo described Ginsburg as someone who "pursued truth and justice in a world of division, giving voice to the voiceless and uplifting those who were pushed aside by forces of hate and indifference," said he would appoint a commission to be tasked with selecting an artist and location for a statue in her hometown, Brooklyn.
Hillary Clinton, who was first lady when Ginsburg was appointed to the Supreme Court, said "there will never be another like her." paid tribute to Ginsburg in a televised interview with Face the Nation's Margaret Brennan, stating, among other things, that "people were really pulling for her and they really gravitated to her because of her sense of equality and fairness, and they thought, unlike much in politics today, she was totally on the level."
Funeral services
Ginsburg is expected to lie in repose at the Supreme Court for two days between September 23 and September 24. Previous ceremonies for Associate Justices were limited to a single day, such as Associate Justices William J. Brennan Jr., John Paul Stevens, and Antonin Scalia. Her public viewing is planned to be held outdoors.
A separate private funeral and interment service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery the following week.<ref name=":2" />

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