Women's Equality Day
August 25th, 2018
'Walk With Women' Challenge
2017-18 Activism Update
With your help, W.E.D. championed the issues of suffrage, equality and choice throughout 2017-18.
Most rewardingly, in 2017 we walked beside social justice organizers to bring attention and support to prevention of police violence against people of color in Marion County and support of community efforts to reduce Marion County neighborhood gun violence.
We followed 9 bills regarding Voting Rights, Equal Pay, Hate Crimes Protection, and Abortion were introduced to the
2017-18 Indiana General Assembly.
Women's Equality Day rallied focused support from across the state for Indiana General Assembly hearings and workdays at the state capitol, informing and walking along side of volunteers, organizers and activists, and promoting all opportunities to find a seat at the legislative table.
A couple of thoroughly amended bills survived; both written by the folks at Indiana Vote By Mail, a bill to create a specific USPS tracking system to secure mail-in ballots and a bill to eliminate the excuse required to vote absentee mail in ballot. Congratulations Indiana Vote by Mail!
In 2017 we raised our awareness with the rise of Trans Is Beautiful and MeToo movements locally and nationally.
And the Women's Equality Day community lent its membership and support to the security efforts of the
2018 Women's March - IN.
Rep. Linda Lawson, who retired this year and Sen. Jean Breaux sponsored Equal Pay legislation and AGAIN watched as Rep. Brian Bosma, (IN-88 - Speaker of Indiana House) prevented the bills movement to the house floor, as he has for the last 20 years. Can you say Representative Poonam Gill? Hoosier voters have made the effort in 2017 to have their voices heard and represented. Unfortunately, the current members of the Indiana General Assembly are standing (or rather sitting) in the way of working solutions applicable to lack of equal representation, full racial and gender equality, and reproductive justice for ALL Hoosiers.
Today and Beyond
Which brings us to the focus of this years Women's Equality Day, 'Walk With Women' Challenge.
Last years' Women's Equality Day March and Forum were transformative and inspiring. This is the year, a midterm election year, to take that inspiration and #GetInTheGame. This year we want to share a challenge with women across the 92 counties of Indiana - Find your local candidates at https://indianavoters.in.gov and join the Women's Equality Day "Walk With Women" Challenge to Knock on Doors Across the State on August 25th, 2018.
Both the federal and state administration are intent on attacking women's rights as never before. However, instead of backing down Hoosier Women are stepping up, running for office, organizing volunteers, and volunteering in record numbers.
If you are a volunteer or candidate of any gender or orientation we challenge you to share our commitment to 'Walk With Women' on Women's Equality Day August 25th 2018 as you canvass and knock on doors.
Be sure to facebook us a photo of you canvasing with or for your candidate and hashtag it #WalkWithWomen.
If we all get involved, Women's Equality Day 'Walk With Women' Challenge can give us the momentum we need to 'flip' IN into a state that "Walks With Women".
AND to support this effort during the month of August Women's Equality Day will walk with you each step of the way with Facebook videos and chats to answer your questions and concerns about canvassing, what it is and why it is important. We believe it can make a tremendous difference in every facet of life when we 'Walk With Women'.
W.E.D. Triquetral Intentions
Suffrage: Suffrage is a gender neutral word that means ‘the right to vote’. Regarding the question of Voting Rights, Women’s Equality Day maintains that Women of Color belong in the CENTER, BEGINNING, AND END of All discussions on Suffragette History. Women of color have led the way fighting for everyone elses right to vote from Ida B. Wells to Rep. Terri Sewell, D-AL. There can be no female emancipation unless we rise together. The voting apathy that strikes all our communities is intentional.
Indiana has the 5th lowest voter turnout through GOP designed voter suppression, voter purges, and restrictive voting regulations that effectively prevent minorities, women, elderly and the poor from full constitutional voter enfranchisement. We support all efforts to challenge and improve our states current, expensive, antiquated, 19th century poll day processes and seek to work with our legislators to end gerrymandering, and establish Vote By Mail saving our state millions of dollars and making voting truly accessible to ALL
Equality: The Intersectional needs of Black Women demand that we acknowledge the double dose of cultural and institutional oppression that challenges their daily existence. Seeking racial and gender justice is a conversation Hoosier women continue to have. Lack of equitable pay and lack of Hate Crimes legislation (still) are a few of the ways Indiana continues the legacy of race and gender oppression.
In the 21st century it is archaic and unacceptable that women still make less wages than men for the same work. Women of Color, less still. It is estimated that it will take women 170
years to reach economic parity with their male counterparts resulting from centuries of often violent economic gender oppression. Ladies of color, add 70 more years.
Choice: Without reproductive choice, ALL other choices become increasingly theoretical. "Birth control-individual choice, safe contraceptive methods, as well as abortions when necessary-is a fundamental prerequisite for the emancipation of women." Angela Davis The most pro-women stance we can take is to ensure all women have access to licensed, professional, comprehensive and informed reproductive support and care. And since Indiana also has the distinction of being 2nd in the Nation for childhood sexual assault, at the top of our W.E.D (Women's Equality Day) agenda, we demand that public education include instruction on personal boundaries and CONSENT, beginning in kindergarten.
Our Founding
This vision of Women's Equality Day started in 2016 as an opportunity to
rally the energy of more than 5,982 registered Indivisible Groups in the United
States of America to honor August 26th 1971 the day designated by the U.S. Congress, as
Women's Equality Day.
This truly grassroots effort is the brainchild of Suffragette Sister Triana Arnold James (candidate - Lt. Governor of Georgia - 2018), and Brooke Teal Robbins of Suffragette Sisters Los Angeles. The Triquetral focus of Indiana's 2017 Inaugural Women's Equality Day was informed by a diverse array of Hoosier women (check out the registry).
Join us in the RECLAMATION of our powerful suffragette history. A history that led the U.S. Congress in
1971 to designate August 26th, U.S. Women's Equality Day.
Build with us as we challenge our community each day to actively engage in the 21st century struggle for Full Suffrage, Real Equality and Reproductive Choice
for ALL Hoosiers.
Stand in solidarity with Indiana Women's Equality Day as we labor together for Hoosier Suffrage, Equality and Choice during 2018.
We are Stronger Together!
