Su has spent her life fighting for the causes she believes in and working tirelessly to support her family and improve the lives of her neighbors and friends. Su grew up in a hard-working family that struggled to get by. She learned at a young age the realities faced by so many parents who struggle to cover the bills and put food on the table.
Yesterday, I got up, like millions of women in this country, had a cup of coffee, walked the dog, and . . . ended the day with fewer fundamental human rights than our mothers. Women are now treated as second-class citizens.
Make no mistake, it’s not about families or babies. This decision is about power over women. It’s not about the health of women, or they would fund free national safe clinics for education, screenings, and pap smears.
It’s certainly not about families, as we would have national free pre-natal care, appointments, and care for the inevitable medical emergencies.
And it’s not about equity, as the wealthy and privileged will always be able to travel for safe abortions, while the poor will either have to carry an unwanted pregnancy, or die from a botched one.
And it’s not about children, as women all over this country are forced back to work days after giving birth, they let our kids go hungry with no help for day care, and, let’s face it they can’t even protect our kids from gunmen at recess.
Women, make them hear our rage. And now is the time for women to turn our rage into action. No one is coming to save us… it is up to us to save ourselves.
Today is the first step. Protest, tell your story, make art, talk to your friends and neighbors. And protest again and again. Don’t let them ever forget that women’s rights are human rights. It’s a marathon, and we will grind them into seeing that truth: Women’s rights are human rights.
First, vote like your life depends on it. Because it does.
Every election matters. And, I want you to run for office. Any office. School boards, Town meeting, anything that makes your voice heard. As your State Senator, I will continue to be one of those voices and an advocate for policies that protect the rights of women in Massachusetts. Help me fight this. I want to be part of an Army of allies, working together to push back and make our majority voices heard.
It’s not enough to tell them no further. Massachusetts is thus far a safe state, but the way this court is going, make no mistake, they are coming for us. We have to push back. We must win. Say it with me: WOMEN’s Rights are human rights.