Justice O'Connor Resigns ... Women's Lives on the Line
This is the time to SAVE OUR COURTS!
ILLINOIS NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN
Bonnie Grabenhofer President, IL NOW
Released on July 5, 2005
Rallying For Fair Courts
Statement of Illinois NOW President Bonnie Grabenhofer
In response to this emergency, there are rallies all over the country. Five are here in Illinois today. From Carbondale to the Northwest Suburbs we are standing together for our rights, our lives and our futures.
We are pleased to be a part of the Illinois Coalition for Fair Courts. The actions today are just the beginning of our nation-wide plan to Save the Courts – Save Women’s Lives.
Justice Sandra Day O’Connor made history by becoming the first woman on the Supreme Court. She has been the swing vote on issues important to us such as reproductive rights, affirmative action, disability rights, and family and medical leave. We will not let her replacement put back the barriers that she took down. We will not give back the gains that we’ve made. We will not go back!
The President has an obligation to nominate someone who will represent all of the people, not just those with power and money. We urge the president to seek and accept the advice and consent of the Senate.
And we urge the Senate to insist on a nominee who recognizes that privacy is protected by the Constitution, that Congress has the power to pass laws protecting civil rights and that this power is not trumped by states rights, and that equal protection includes all the people. We won’t let the Senators sacrifice our rights on the altar of political expediency.
To quote national NOW President Kim Gandy: “NOW is prepared to lead the fight against any nominee who would turn back the clock on our civil, economic, and reproductive rights — and our supporters will be urging Senators to reject any nominee who is not committed to protecting those rights.”
Rally Reports from across the state
The Daily Herald welcomed 35-40 people for this rally!
Bonnie Grabenhofer President, IL NOW, Kaiya Iverson, President, DuPage County NOW
In Chicago:
Federal Plaza welcomed 50 people for their rally!
Meghan Streit, President Chicago NOW
In Arlington Heights:
The Daily Herald hosted Catherine Caporusso, President Northwest Suburban NOW
In Springfield:
Federal Courthouse Building welcomed Susan Bramlet-Lavin, Executive Director, IL NOW & Springfield NOW with 45-50 people in attendance!
In Carbondale:
Paul Simon Federal Courthouse was the site for 25 supporters with MeLissa L. Obermiller, President, Southern IL NOW as the guest speaker for the group. As you can see from the pictures, the group of women, men and children stretched along an entire block!
(click on thumbnail for larger image)
 Pres. MeLissa L. Obermiller reads IL NOW's Pres. Grabenhofer's statement to the crowd |
 Some of the many supporters who attended the rally |
 Save Our Courts rally attendees |
 Children have a voice too! |
 A long way down the block in front of the Paul Simon Federal Building |
 Another view down the block |
 Pres. Obermiller encourages the crowd to continue the fight! |
