BISC Marks the Beginning of Women’s History Month
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 1, 2022
PRESS CONTACT:
Britton Lee
[email protected]
WASHINGTON — Today, in honor of the beginning of Women’s History Month, the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center released a statement honoring women in the ballot initiative space who are working to protect direct democracy.
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Executive Director Chris Melody Fields Figueredo issued the following statement:
“As Women’s History Month commences, let us not only honor the trailblazers who came before us, but also celebrate the women who are paving a new path forward today and invest in the future HERstory makers. Right now, we face many attacks against women raging across the country, especially transgender, gender non-conforming, and women of color and the intersections between. Yes, we have made progress, but much work remains to dismantle the racist and patriarchal systems that were designed to oppress us.”
“There is so much at stake right now–from abortion bans throughout the country which disproportionately harm women of color, to the ongoing 50-year fight for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, to pay equity and more. Symbolically honoring women is no longer enough.”
“Ballot measures are a tool for reimagining our democracy and ensuring that the communities whose voices have been excluded from decision-making processes are leading the way. At BISC, we are dedicated to elevating female-identifying leaders who are transforming their communities through education, grassroots organizing, and civic engagement. Kandace Montgomery, Corenia Smith, and Zakiya Prince are just some of the changemakers we are celebrating who are leading the movement for change and working to build an equitable and just world.”
“Women were not included in the original design of our democracy and now we have an opportunity to demand leadership roles as we defend and reshape direct democracy so that rights for women and our communities are embedded in the new systems we are designing. Women’s History Month is about the right to exist, live with dignity and thrive, not just in the month of March — but every day.”