Kamala Harris: WE HAVE HER BACK!

 

Women Lawyers on Guard Action Network (WLGAN) is galvanized at the historic selection of Senator Kamala Harris for Vice President!  Her selection is inspiring and a profoundly important milestone for all women, and especially women of color.  Senator Harris  will help unite and lead our country through these unprecedented times.

Kamala Harris was elected to the U.S. Senate from California in 2017.  She is the second African American women and first South Asian American to serve in the U.S. Senate.  She is a graduate of Howard University and the University of California Hastings College of Law and began her legal career as a district attorney and later the City Attorney of San Francisco. She was elected the Attorney General of California in 2010.  [See a summary of her impressive life and career HERE]

WLGAN joins with sister national organizations – National Women’s Law Center, Planned Parenthood, Emily’s List, National Partnership for Women and Families, Supermajority, and TimesUp – in support of  Senator Harris, and particularly to challenge the media (and all of us) to avoid the destructive stereotypes about women and people of color as they (and we) talk about her candidacy.  HERE is a Washington Post article warning us to be ready for online misogyny.  And HERE is a powerful letter from these six women’s organizations addressed to the media, calling on them to be mindful of these stereotypes and expecting to see better from the press.

As you talk about Senator Kamala Harris with your family, friends and colleagues, remember that WE HAVE HER BACK!  And we hope you will as well.

 

 

What To Do With Your Outrage

WLG/WLGAN is all about turning outrage and anger into action.  In the wake of another outrageous killing of a Black man, George Floyd, and the violation of the constitutional rights of peaceful protestors, we urge you to “Do Something.”  Here are two resources:

First, HERE is a link to an Anti-Racist Resource Guide prepared by Victoria Alexander (her LinkedIn Page HERE). The guide is filled with ideas about broadening your understanding of, and ways to combat, racism.  We share this with the obvious caveats that many other worthwhile organizations, projects and resources exist, and we encourage you to find them; also that you should check out any organization you are unfamiliar with, if you are interested in donating.

Second, the American Constitution Society is connecting volunteer lawyers with organizations and chapters on the ground for efforts across the country. If you would like to volunteer, Ashley Erickson has asked that you please contact her directly at [email protected] and include “WLG/WLGAN Sent Us” in the subject line.

A new era for the ERA: Conference

Women Lawyers On Guard Action Network Inc. is co-sponsoring a conference on the Equal Rights Amendment in Richmond, VA, on Saturday, October 26, 2019. At that conference, we will be presenting a panel on Gender Pay Equity, including: some shocking statistics on the gender pay gap, legislative and litigation addressing the gap, how the ERA might help close the gap (or not), and some practical ways that legal employers can address this problem. Registration link is HERE (scroll toward bottom). The tickets are only $65 for lawyers, $10 for students and $20 for lawyers practicing five years or less. Abigail Spanberger, Ellie Smeal and other notables will be speaking at the conference.

WLGAN Advocates For the ERA

On April 30th, a House Judiciary Subcommittee held hearings on the Equal Rights Amendment for the first time in 36 years. Wasting no time, Women Lawyers On Guard Action Network delivered a letter to the committee addressing three issues with detailed and persuasive legal arguments. We argued, for example, that the deadline does not preclude ratification now, and that the Amendment is still very necessary. Letter here.

Many thanks to the WLGAN network volunteers who assisted in this effort.

WaPo editorial supports new Me Too law for Congress

Congress finally passed a bipartisan bill to improve the procedure for addressing sexual harassment claims.  (House and Senate members will have to reimburse the Treasury for all future payments to settle sexual harassment claims ,and accusers will no longer be bound by mandatory confidentiality agreements.)  But WLG agrees with this Washington Post editorial that more needs to be done, including a procedure for Congress to address gender discrimination within their own ranks.  Read more here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/congresss-new-sexual-harassment-law-is-a-major-step-in-the-right-direction/2018/12/30/7f58baec-ffcd-11e8-83c0-b06139e540e5_story.html?utm_term=.bf0604d0175d