Letter: “We believe this moment in time is not ‘politics as usual.’”
To the Editor:
We are inspired by Westport women who came before us – Republicans and Democrats alike – who rallied and door-knocked and wrote letters and took personal risks for over seven decades in pursuit of the right to vote.
Today, more than 100 years after the 19th amendment was added to our constitution, women are still not equal under the law. This is both unethical and un-American. Overturning Roe v Wade was, quite simply, a violation of our dignity and human rights.
Join us in mobilizing the power of the collective to promote women’s issues in 2022. Issues that are personal,familial and community focused. Issues that include privacy and individual freedoms and the education, safety and well-being of our children. Issues that impact the identity and vitality of our town.
When we cast our ballots in November, we must vote for policies, candidates and parties that validate our equal status, shared values and the survival of our democracy. Throughout history and in societies across the globe, women have united against marginalization. Demanding that our elected officials stand up for the rights of more than half the population is fundamental to our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.
Committed to moving forward in our homes, our schools and workplaces, our village, our state and our country, we respectfully ask you,friends and neighbors from diverse political ideologies,to:
Recognize your power.
Accept your responsibility.
Vote in the best interests of yourself and your sisters, daughters, mothers, girlfriends and granddaughters.
As Westport suffragists Lillian Wald, Amelia Shaw MacDonald Cutler, Sara Buek Crawford, Anna Holden Mazzanovich, Laura Gardin Fraser, Rose O’Neill and others bravely did over 100 years ago, stand up for the women and girls you know and don’t yet know, in Westport and in destinations far from here. Our causes are also theirs.
Women of Westport unite. And V O T E.
Signed,
Jessica Hill Jen Greely Kate McGarvey Trudie Gubitz Andrea Berkley Ebru Halper Nancy Axthelm Gery Grove Lindsay Weiner Miriamne DeMarrais Lisa Hofmeister Julia Marx Rebecca Martin Jen Gorin Michelle Mechanic Lauren MacNeill Liz Leggett Courtney McCrea Haley Lieberman Erin Loranger Danielle Teplica Denise Michalowski Kara Sullivan Gail Berritt Joelle Berger Vicki Volper Jill Saluck Abby Tolan Megan Rutstein Robin Weinberg Melissa Kane Anne Burmeister Amiee Altschul Sally Potter Annie Zimmerli-Haskell Amy Benjamin Linda Gordon Jill Nadel Sarah Benjamin Alexandra Benjamin Jordana Latzman Laila Latzman Liz Milwe Sarah Kelly Darcy Hicks Melissa Post Candace Banks Lorraine Pallumbo Lauren Kreizer Lisa Newman Danielle Dobin Laura Franklin Lauren Karpf Kris Jandora Netta Levy Donna Bacro Wendy G Batteau Sara Kempner Pegeen Rubinstein Hannah Spencer Ali Stanley Leslie Blank Haley Schulman Karen Salsgiver Coveney Shayna Green Marjorie Jacobson Stacie Curran Sivan Hong Karen Driscoll Miryha Fantegrossi Kate Tarrant Cynthia Cornell. Julie Cochran Linda Costello Anne Bowens Eliza Bowens Natasha Johnston Bonita Messman Rama Iyer Galia Gichon Mariana Servin Carrie Blasberg Jaimie Dockray Jenny Perlman Sara Jordan Sydney Hunter Esme Hunter Kate Kornfeld Jenny Lukens Jane Lukens Ifeseyi Gayle Marjorie Almansi Maureen Tarrant Elizabeth Kessler Stacie Waldman Kelli O’Hara Naughton Jen Meerow Berniker Sarah Green Caroline Motyl Tomira Wilcox Cathy Kim Walker Linda Mandel Weatherly Hammond Courtney McMahon Diana Mashia Ana Johnson Aline Kultgen Ronnie Aaron Hammer Ashley Moran Deborah Alexander Maria Freeman Melissa Levy Sara Holt Reiss-Schmidt Jas Silver Stephanie Tang Patra Kanchanagom Ellie Magnuson Kit Tingley Emily Croce Bihl Shannon Vindiola Inés Riera Brooke Davies Christina Trudeau Alison Luisi Deirdre Doran Julie Keil Riordan Michaela Rome Amy Herrera Eileen Winnick Jeanne B Klinge Jennifer DeLeonardo Seena Cushman Amanda Holt Corey Phyllis Freeman Carol Anne Ances Nancy Anderson Marcia Falk Helene Jacobs Dana Aussenberg Susan Eastman Dina Upton Hannah DeQuadros Lisa Eisen Sheri Gordon Lauren Gladstein Elizabeth Malaspina Coe Tracy Brenner Tyndale Brickey Bloom Michelle Backus Mia Anderson Allison O’Dell Sarah Caro Elizabeth Woodson Katie Apton Libby Spader Alex Cirasuolo Pam Barkentin Elise Zimmerman Jodi Christensen-Hardin Carolanne Curry Melinda Greenlee Lindsey Allen Emma Allen Georgia Allen Margo Amgott Lindsay Blass Vicki Lopez Marley Lopez-Paul Leslie Gransberry Kathryn Sonne Elizabeth Sonne Joan Polayes Dalma Heyn Josephine Deignan Lindsay Shurman Lauri Weiser Cathy Brodows Kate Frascella Diane McCoy Celeste Lacroix Joan Gillman Allyson Stollenwerck Jill Totenberg Jenae Weinbrenner Jessica Newshel Bobbi Essagof Elizabeth Canner Susan Hendee Patricia Gabal Betsy Sunderji Marjorie Donalds Jodi Ross Aviva Ross Georgette Geller Julia Petro Valerie Greenberg Michelle D’Auria Kiana Danial Diana Shayon Nathalie Jacob Barbra Utting Angela Benzan Linda Pryde Helene Jacobs Prill Boyle
To add your name to this letter, email Jessica Hill at jmbhill24@gmail.com
We invite Westport women and high school girls (able / soon able to vote) to add their names. The letter will be published locally in advance of the November election.