Women's Equality Day (...and Day 1 of the Convention)

Today was most definitely interesting--and jam-packed! This morning, I headed to a panel discussion on race issues in the election, sponsored by Politico, Yahoo, and the Denver Post. Panelists included from Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (IL), former Virginia governor Douglas Wilder, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, Tavis Smiley, and Dr. Cornel West. Each panelist offered a unique perspective on the current state of race in the election (and the country) that encouraged participants to continue the discussion long after closing questions.

This afternoon, I had the priveledge of celebrating Women's Equality Day (marking 88 years of women voting in the US!) with NOW and the Feminist Majority at the Women's EqualiTEA. National feminist leaders at all levels (from DC Women's Information Network members, to Dolores Huerta, E. Faye Williams, and Congresswomen Maloney, Waters, and Capps) gathered to celebrate women's enfranchisement and remember the Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones. Despite the dozens of anti-abortion extremists who brought their messages of hate and fear-mongering, the 500+ EqualiTEA participants stood together in solidarity to remember the focus of the day: women's equality through the right to vote!

Following the EqualiTEA, I attended the tribute to Senator Edward Kennedy and Michelle Obama's keynote speech. Over the course of the 2-hour event, fair pay, Women's Equality Day, health care, education, and a livable wage were all mentioned multiple times! As a feminist, I am glad to hear these important issues being spoken from the podium, but there is much work yet to be done to achieve true equality for women.



On deck for tomorrow...

• another Politico event featuring Speaker Pelosi (!!!)
• Women's Caucus event
• EMILY's List event(s)
• Senator Clinton addressing the Convention
• meeting more incredible feminists!