The passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will undoubtedly be memorialized by historians and those who knew her best. I've already read incredible pieces written far more eloquently than anything I could write. However, I couldn't let her passing go by without jotting down a few thoughts.
The world before Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the world after her life's work is stunningly different. Her ability to fight for others is truly unparalleled. When she began her career, a woman could lose her job for getting pregnant and having a baby. Women were not seen as equal human beings. And while she fought for all marginalized people, and for upholding our democracy, and for protecting human rights and voting rights, she was and will always be, one of the most effective feminists this world has ever seen.
She never quit. She didn't give in. She just did the work. And she kept doing the work until the very end, because there is still so much work to be done.
She said what was right when many wouldn't dare think that big, let alone say big ideas aloud.
Her premise that there would be enough women on the highest court when there were nine is bold. Even today it is still a bold idea. Few leaders ever say that in places of power there could or should actually be only women. That statement in 2020 still makes people very uncomfortable. However, Justice Ginsburg said what over half of the population felt. By saying it and by having it repeated over and over again and by working each day to see that it happens, that takes real courage and real strength and a will that few people possess. Justice Ginsberg possessed those qualities.
She was as smart as they come and as tough, but she also had tremendous grace. She redefined what it means to be powerful.
RBG transcended the Supreme Court.
Little girls will forever learn about the second female appointment to the Supreme Court.
They will wear her lacy collar.
They will dissent.
They will rise because of her.
They will put one foot in front of the other and keep going for themselves and for her.
It feels like a soul crushing personal loss for so many of us. Women were calling and reaching out to other women for support. The words fear and terror were used quite a bit Friday night as the news broke. However, those words soon turned to action.
We have the ability to keep her legacy alive and continue to carry it forward by voting.
Use your voice.
Use your vote.
Don't ever relent.
She never quit on the ideals she knew were the bedrock of this country, and we mustn't either. As unionists and for many of you reading this, as feminists, we must continue forward.
We must elect candidates up and down the ballot who will not attack labor, voting rights, women, LGBTQ people and people of color moving forward.
And we must fight like hell to prevent a premature appointment to fill Justice Ginsburg's seat.
As we always say, you are not alone. You have unions both at the state and at the national levels who will fight. And for those of you who are NYSUT women, you have a tribe of women ready to stand up, speak out and fight back against attacks on our rights.
Remember this feminist icon by being a patriot. Remember her by voting and getting out the vote in your community and in communities that will determine who our next president and vice president will be.
Remember her the way she wanted to be remembered, in her own words, ‘Just as someone who did whatever she could, with whatever limited talent she had, to move society along in the direction I would like it to be for my children and grandchildren.’
We can do that for her.
