We Stand with Latifa, Phoebe and Malokhat. FREEDOM UNITED.

ACT   Dear David, Do you know what proportion of modern slavery victims are women and girls? This International Women’s Day, we are standing up for women and girls like Phoebe*who was forced into the commercial sex trade at just 15 years old.[1] Women and girls make up 71% of all modern slavery victims.[2] Join us and demand 'Freedom For Girls'! We are speaking out for young women like Latifa from Lebanon – who at 19 was forced to marry the middle-aged man who raped her[3] – and calling for Lebanon to abolish all of its laws that perpetuate the exploitation of young women and girls through forced marriage. Join us and stand in solidarity with Malokhat, the human rights monitor who is constantly targeted, harassed and detained for her work shedding light on egregious human rights violations and forced labor in Uzbekistan’s cotton industry.[4] Tell Uzbekistan to drop all charges against Malokhat. Right now, you can take critical action to help end modern slavery. Mark Women’s Day and add your voices to these campaigns. If you already have, share them and encourage others to add their voices too.  These real life stories represent the wide scope of how women and girls are disproportionately affected by modern slavery. Whether forced to sell sex, forced to marry or targeted and persecuted for helping prevent slavery, women and girls are at greater risk of harm. So today we say their names: Malokhat, Latifa, Phoebe – along with the names of countless women and girls who endure trafficking, exploitation, threat and fear every day – and commit to taking action. We thank you for tirelessly joining us in the fight against slavery. There’s still much work to do and this International Women’s Day we know we can count on you to keep the momentum going. Thanks for your support, Joanna, Alex, Miriam, Katina and the entire team at Freedom United.

Dino Rossi on LGBTQ equality. CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE JASON RITTEREISER

David,

Recently, a Wenatchee World reporter asked Dino Rossi about critical issues facing voters -- including Trump’s rollback of anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people.

 

Dino’s response? He dismissed the question, saying “regular folks” don’t care. His complete disregard for the needs of the people in this district is stunning.

 

That’s why I’m on Jason’s team. In his work, he takes on powerful interests to protect people facing discrimination. Jason works for everything Dino is against. 

 

The people of the 8th District deserve leaders who will fight for ALL of us, regardless of sexual orientation or gender.

 

Let’s be honest, Dino’s comments don’t come as a big surprise given his track record of opposing equality.

 

As the Wenatchee World points out, in one early campaign Dino attacked his opponent for being a “strong proponent of gay rights.” He even voted for Washington’s Defense of Marriage Act.

 

 ...send a message... for equality...

 

-- Ali
Campaign Manager

Progress is a little more possible these days, David. Hillary Clinton.

This has been a big week for progress, David.

On Tuesday, we saw signs of hope across Texas when more than half of the fifty women running for Congress won their primaries or moved onto a run-off. Across the state, turnout among Democrats was higher than it's been in years. And yesterday, we celebrated International Women's Day by reflecting on how far we've come, and recommitting ourselves to the work ahead.

There's certainly work ahead of us, but the groups that Onward Together supports are making progress seem a little more possible these days. I hope you'll take a moment today to learn more about The Arena, one of our newer groups. They're inspiring and training activists across the country, and I couldn't be more proud.

Onward!

Hillary

(info@onwardtogether.org)

Onward Together works to build a brighter future for generations to come by supporting groups that encourage people to organize in their communities or run for office. Because you're an important part of Onward Together, we wanted you to get a chance to know these groups a little bit better. To learn more about Onward Together, click here.

The organization: The Arena

The organizers: Swati Mylavarapu, Ravi Gupta, and Kate Catherall

The mission: To inspire and train civic leaders at their quarterly summits and through building progressive communities -- online and off.

The story: Faced with the fear and confusion of his students after the 2016 election, Ravi Gupta needed a way to bring young progressives together to mourn and organize. The first Arena Summit took place just one month later and brought together more than 450 energized people from 32 states, more than 150 of whom pledged to run for office.

The latest: Currently on their fifth summit, the Arena is on track to train more than 5,000 activists by the end of 2018. They've also launched their Spotlight program, which has already brought attention to activist and non-profit leaders doing work that matters.

The next step: The team at the Arena is on the frontlines of the fight to connect progressives across the country with resources and tools they need...learn more at TheArena.run

Happy International Women’s Day. Annmarie Kelly-Harbaugh.

I was 19 years old the last time I cried in school. 

The first time was because I spilled grape juice on my white corduroy pants.

The second time was when I lost the Arbor Day poster contest to my classmate, Tracy. I thought my poem about a tree was better than her picture of a tree. [Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.] 

But the last time I cried at school was not an occasion when I felt clumsy or jealous. It was a day when I felt silenced.

I was giving a presentation about women’s poetry in a college English class. I was nervous and naïve and excited and proud. I quoted lots of poems in my talk, which I thought made me seem worldly and smart.

Midway through my presentation, the instructor interrupted. Had I “learned NOTHING in this class?” Had I “not been listening all semester?” My professor announced that if I did not have something better to say then I should just sit down.

In the days that followed, I thought of so many better things to say. “If you are so concerned about how women’s voices have been overlooked throughout history, why are you ignoring mine now?”

But in class that day, I stopped my presentation and tearfully sat down.

I remember that day as the last time I ever allowed myself to be silenced, the last time I ever let myself be convinced that someone else’s opinion about what I knew was more important than my own. 

Today is International Women’s Day. Women across the globe and the men who stand with them – men like my husband, Ken – are coming together, speaking out, and reminding the world that the playing field is not yet level. 

I am proud to join the long list of women who are no longer staying quiet about the things that matter to us -- like access to affordable health care, paid family leave, and equal pay for equal work.

Ken and I want our kids to grow up in a world where their voices matter. I know you want that, too. There is power in discourse. There is strength in speaking across our differences. Most of all, we must make ourselves heard.

Happy International Women’s Day.

In service, 

Annmarie

(info@kenharbaughforcongress.com)