U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono joined prominent Senate Democrats and members of the Congressional Black Caucus on Thursday in upbraiding Senate Republican leaders for their continued commitment to refusing individual meetings and confirmation hearings for any nominee President Barack Obama puts forward to replace the late Antonin Scalia on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Within hours of Scalia’s death last month, Senate President Mitch McConnell announced he would not provide the constitutionally mandated vetting of any nominee from Obama. Senate Judiciary Chair Charles Grassley backed up McConnell, saying he would not convene hearings. Both Republican leaders say Scalia’s replacement ought to be put forward by whoever wins the presidential election this fall.

“It is unprecedented to announce unilaterally that no part of advise and consent will occur until after an election,” said Hirono at the press conference. “There is a law enacted nearly 150 years ago that says that the Supreme Court shall consist of nine justices, which also presumes that when a vacancy occurs, the president will nominate a replacement and the Senate will provide advice and consent.

“In my view, this law is violated when Senate Republicans say that it’s OK to leave a vacancy unfilled for over a year.”

Hirono was flanked by seven Senate colleagues, including Minority Leader Harry Reid, Charles Schumer and Barbara Mikulski, and five CBC members, including U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia.

Hawaii’s other senator, Brian Schatz, lent his voice to the growing criticism of the Republican position with a tweet citing data from recent polls showing voters overwhelmingly disagree with McConnell and Grassley.

69% of Americans say the Senate GOP should consider the president's Supreme Court nominee. Tell the GOP to #DoYourJob.

— Senator Brian Schatz (@SenBrianSchatz) March 4, 2016

MoveOn.org is among multiple liberal progressive organizations that have stepped up the pressure on McConnell to change his mind. MoveOn’s website on Friday prominently featured a petition urging confirmation of a qualified nominee. Nearly a quarter-million signers had added their names to the effort by mid-day.

Despite the pressure, McConnell and Grassley, who finally met with Obama regarding the vacancy Tuesday after refusing earlier White House invitations, have shown no signs of changing their minds. On the same day of his meeting with the president, Grassley published an op/ed on the influential SCOTUSBlog website critical of Obama’s intentions.

“The American people deserve the opportunity during this election year to weigh in on whether the next Justice should apply the text and original meaning of the Constitution, or, alternatively, his or her own life experiences to changing times to advance his or her own sense of what would be ‘just decisions and fair outcomes.’ wrote Grassley. “Senate Republicans will ensure the American people are not denied this unique and historic opportunity.”