NOW Celebrates Women Leaders in Denver

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National NOW Times >> Fall 2008 >> Article

NOW Celebrates Women Leaders in Denver

By Liz Gilchrist, Gift Planning Director

Photo by Melody Drnach

NOW co-sponsored a Women's EqualiTea in Denver on the first day of the Democratic National Convention. The event included a touching tribute to friend and ally Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, who passed away suddenly on Aug.20. Tubbs Jones was remembered for her smile, her grit, her dedication and her enormous heart.

On the first day of the 2008 Democratic Convention in Denver, NOW co-sponsored a Women's EqualiTea, along with the Feminist Majority, the National Association of Social Workers, the National Congress of Black Women and the Dolores Huerta Foundation. Over 500 delegates and supporters braved anti-abortion protesters to attend the event.

More than two dozen members of Congress spoke to the overflow crowd, which included many elected officials. The most poignant moment came when Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist Connie Schultz led a tribute to her dear friend Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones, who passed away suddenly on Aug. 20. Her son, Mervyn Jones Jr., was present and expressed his gratitude for the love shown his mother and their family.

NOW leaders and activists, who attended the convention as both delegates and observers, also took part in many forums and receptions, including the DNC constituency caucus meetings, including the Women's Caucus, the African-American Caucus, the Hispanic Caucus, and the LGBT Caucus.

For most, the highlight of the week was witnessing the keynote speech of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on Aug. 26, Women's Equality Day.

It was a bittersweet moment for those who had worked so tirelessly to elect her, as the speech marked the close of her historic campaign for president. Her words are well worth remembering:

To my supporters, my champions -- my sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits -- from the bottom of my heart: Thank you.

You never gave in. You never gave up. And together we made history...

I'm a United States Senator because in 1848 a group of courageous women and a few brave men gathered in Seneca Falls, New York, many traveling for days and nights, to participate in the first convention on women's rights in our history.

And so dawned a struggle for the right to vote that would last 72 years, handed down by mother to daughter to granddaughter -- and a few sons and grandsons along the way.

These women and men looked into their daughters' eyes, imagined a fairer and freer world, and found the strength to fight. To rally and picket. To endure ridicule and harassment. To brave violence and jail.

And after so many decades -- 88 years ago on this very day -- the 19th amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote would be forever enshrined in our Constitution.

My mother was born before women could vote. But in this election my daughter got to vote for her mother for president.

This is the story of America.

-- Hillary Clinton

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