RI
has created a political
environment where women are ignored
On June 23 the Rhode Island legislative session ended with no
movement on legislation pertaining to equal pay, reproductive freedom, or
sexual harassment.
On June 26, the Supreme
Court of the United States in National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v
Becerra found that anti-abortion crisis
pregnancy centers do not need to fully disclose their purpose.
In reacting to the decision NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue said, “One vote made all the difference
today, and it could also be the only thing between upholding Roe or
outlawing legal abortion in America.”
On June 27, we found out
that “one vote,” Justice Anthony M Kennedy,
widely seen as holding the center on the Supreme Court of the United States, is
retiring on July 31st of this year.
But that’s not all. Former
Representative John Carnevale filed
to run for his old seat in District 13.
Carnevale did not run in 2016 after he was kicked off the primary
ballot for not living in the District—a transgression for which he is still
facing three counts of perjury and one count of filing a false document.
However, that is not the
main reason why RI NOW is
concerned about Carnevale being in the State House.
In October 2011 he was indicted on charges of first- and second-degree sexual assault and one count of assault with intent to commit sexual assault. But the charges were dropped in January 2012 after his accuser died suddenly.
How could a man like this
even think it reasonable to run for elected office? Because Rhode Island has
created a political environment in which women are ignored.
If legislators do
not value the autonomy of women’s bodies, if they do not protect them in the
workplace, it is no surprise that men believe they can treat women criminally,
and still be considered democratic leaders.
Rhode Island, we can and
must do better. The time is NOW to act on legislation, to speak out, and vote
to protect women.
