‘me too.’ on the Passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
“The number of women who have come forward as a result of the #MeToo Movement has been astonishing. My hope is, not just that it is here to stay, but that it is as effective for the woman who works as a maid in a hotel as it is for Hollywood stars.”
– Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
When we learned of the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday, September 18, to say that the ‘me too.’ team was devastated would be an understatement. We were and continue to be gutted by this significant loss, and at the same time, we celebrate her life and wonderful legacy.
“The way that so many of us have been able to deal with pain and losses is by standing in our truth and raising our voices. Just like Ruth Bader Ginsburg did throughout her life. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who for many was an iconic hero for women’s rights, and human rights. But ultimately, she stood up for what was just,” says ‘me too.’ founder Tarana Burke.
We are called in at this moment to reflect on the invaluable contributions of Justice Ginsburg’s bravery and leadership. Since her appointment to the United States Supreme Court nearly three decades ago, she worked tirelessly to bring this nation closer to equality with her progressive rulings (and razor-sharp dissents), especially when it came to gender discrimination abortion rights, same-sex marriage, voting rights, immigration, and healthcare.
Prior to her sitting on the “highest court of the land,” as graduating from the top of her class from Columbia Law School, to later being Columbia Law’s first female tenured professor to founding the Women’s Rights Project at the ACLU, RBG was no stranger to breaking the glass ceiling. And as an attorney, she never feared taking on the tough cases that required nuance, innovation, and courage.
Women like Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her infinite tenacity and desire to speak truth to power are the reasons why movements like ‘me too.’ have enough momentum to swing the pendulum in a new direction. While the world may look different than when RBG first walked onto the Supreme Court Buildings steps for the first time, as we approach the third anniversary of #metoo, it’s never been more clear that we have so much more work to do, especially around sexual violence and its intersections with race, gender, and class.
As we continue our fight, we know that there is no better time to be in the community and set our collective agenda for the future. We will hold RBG’s legacy close to our hearts, and know that envisioning a world without violence is not a figment of our imagination, it’s a reality we can achieve together.
Rest in power RBG.
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