Photo by TW Collins
By Lucy Lewis
Triangle Branch (NC)
Triangle (NC) WILPF members Ruth Zalph and Fran Schindler joined thousands of other protestors in Washington, D.C., in September and early October, speaking out against the nomination and then the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court. Ruth, who is also a Raging Granny, and Fran were arrested multiple times for civil disobedience, both inside and outside the proceedings. We are so proud of all our sisters and brothers who took a stand!
View a slideshow of images of Ruth and Fran here.
Ruth was quoted in an article in Elle magazine, “Meet the People Putting Their Bodies on the Lines to Protest Brett Kavanaugh”:
“The Supreme Court of the United States is a lifetime position and it is so very, very, very important that we get somebody there who is open minded, who will listen to everybody’s story–and is not one who is prone to want to privatize everything, from our bodies, to our health care, to our social security, to our Medicare. We need someone who is more open minded. Liberal. Progressive. One who believes that all people should be treated equally. I am a white woman, and I have certain privileges. As a white woman, I think that we will never have true equality until every woman has the same privilege as I do, whether she’s yellow, black, brown. She should be treated with the same respect that I expect to be treated.”
To read more about the courageous women who stood up and spoke out, check out the Elle link.
Fran was also one of the people pictured in a Buzzfeed photo journalism piece, "These are the Protestors Who Raised Their Voices Against Brett Kavanaugh". Fran is the sixth picture in the feature, shown as she was being arrested and handcuffed with her hands up in the air. The article includes photos from rallies and vigils held in other cities, including Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and New York City.
Rickey Gard Diamond’s Screwnomics: How Our Economy Works Against Women and Real Ways to Make Lasting Change appeals to their interests and the need to understand how some people seem to get ahead in the world while others do not. It does so by teaching many of the lessons we taught in our Corporate Study Course, “Challenge Corporate Power: Assert the People’s Rights,” but in a totally new way. It uses humor, short accessible chapters, and cartoons so that this complicated material is both approachable and made easily open for discussion in small women’s discussion circles. And it includes a downloadable workbook. Soon a “leader’s guide” will be added.
The source of drinking water for thousands of families, this river was named by the Cherokee. “Nolichucky,” which is translated as “river of death,” “man killer,” or, more benignly, as “rushing waters.” Since NFS’s founding in 1957 and Aerojet’s in 1970, added to the river’s natural rapids and treacherous currents are man-made poisons that also have the capacity to take lives. While our community understands the Nolichucky’s natural dangers, we resent the government-sanctioned poisoning of the river by weapons contractors. 
At her beloved Johnson House, at Mt. Airy Day, at countless events, she embodied the spirit of creating a better world. She truly lived what she aspired to be. She was open, fair, and welcoming. She was persistent and sensitive about getting our WILPF Branch to be more racially inclusive. Knowing that we live in a racially diverse neighborhood, she pushed WILPF to reflect that diversity.
WILPF women—and men—were there, participating energetically in the vigil. Pictured here are branch member Roberta Ahlqhist and her partner, Walter Bliss. Roberta said of her experience at the vigil; “It was a powerful and inspirational event with people of all ages, genders, and colors. This is what democracy looks like!" Member Ruth Chippendale (below, center, wearing a dark blue skirt) joined with the Palo Alto Raging Grannies to sing and lead chants in support of Dr. Ford and all women who have come forward with their stories of sexual assault.
Ruth’s commented on her experience at the vigil: “This is the largest demonstration I’ve ever been at. I kept running into young people I knew and others I haven’t seen in a long time. The people lined up as far as I could see on both sides of the street at the busy intersection. Young people from the high school, Stanford students, and people of all ages were there.”
Here, member Cherrill Spencer (front, right) appears to be leading a charge with other protesters calling for a fair hearing of Dr. Blasey Ford’s testimony at the hearings scheduled for Thursday, September 27.
Protesters were joined by Palo Alto’s Mayor, Liz Kniss, who thanked them for their enthusiastic and peaceful assembly, where they carried signs, sang, and signed a long banner supporting Ford, and then marched briefly downtown before heading home to hear Kavanaugh’s testimony.
If you weren’t out there marching, we’re sure you were protesting and working in other ways to bring a new majority to Washington after the midterm elections. We all will continue to RESIST and work to foster peace, to protect the environment, and to restore the protections we have lost for women, the poor, and immigrants seeking sanctuary and a better life. There is much more work to do, but we can do it!
Veterans Occupy Washington: Veterans will be holding a space at McPherson Square, 15th St. and I St., NW, from Friday night to Sunday night and at the Veteran’s Administration, 810 Vermont Ave. (close to McPherson Square). They will have a stage and sound system for music and open mic starting at 4:00 pm Saturday. They will also hold a BBQ for homeless veterans outside the Veteran’s Administration Building on Sunday night. Stop by whenever you can and stay as long as you like.
