Here is a one positive thing that just happened. On Tuesday, August 19, I represented NOCO NOW at the Larimer County Board of Commissioners meeting where they issued a Proclamation recognizing Women's Right to Vote and Equality Day. I and other invited guests had the opportunity to speak after the proclamation was read. We all recognized the importance of this Proclamation at this moment in time, knowing how women's rights are under attack by the current administration, aided by their GOP lackeys, and abetted by a compromised Supreme Court. The observance of Women's Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, it also calls attention to women's continuing efforts toward full equality. As we celebrate Women's Equality Day this year, we need to remember the importance of our vote and recognize its power. We need to emulate the fearless women before us who bravely did what needed to be done to get the 19th amendment added to the constitution. Because the current administration and the GOP recognize the power of the vote they are trying to "rig" the vote by gerrymandering legislative districts as in Texas. They are also attempting to suppress voting by getting rid of mail-in ballots and imposing new requirements that make it more difficult to vote as in the Save Act which purports to ensure that only U.S. citizens can vote but has raised concerns about potentially disenfranchising millions of eligible voters, including many married women, due to its strict documentation requirements. The SAVE Act has been passed by the House but is still awaiting debate in the Senate. We must work to see it is defeated!
How do we keep moving forward when so many things are pushing us backward? In the words of Christian Nunes, recent past President of NOW:
"We must keep fighting," Nunes charges. "After all, our foremothers didn't stop fighting when they were tired and worn out, thought they would fail, and wanted to give up. We must remember what they were willing to sacrifice for the movement, the fight and the rights we have now. We can find strength in that." "I do know that NOW and our members won't sit still. We have seen a lot of change since NOW was founded almost 60 years ago, but we still have much work to do."
This year remembering the anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment and celebrating Women's Equality Day is more important than ever. Women's rights are under attack. We need to come together, stand strong, raise our voices, and most of all, VOTE!
Please join us on Wednesday, August 27, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, at the Fort Collins Senior Center, Sand Lily Room, and help us celebrate Women's Equality Day with our guest speaker County Commissioner Jody Shadduck-McNally who is bringing a "surprise activity" for us.
Resist! Persist! Persevere!
In solidarity,
Annmarie and the rest of the NOCO NOW Board
Jean, Rosemary, Stephanie, Erin, and Julie |
