Let's Take a Few Moments to Remember Women who Have Gone Before Us

Today is July 20th.  On July 19-20, 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott spearheaded the first women's rights convention in American History. Over 300 women and men traveled to Seneca Falls, New York to protest the mistreatment of women in social, economic, political, and religious life. This marked the first public petition for women's right to vote in America. Their efforts, and the unrelenting, brilliant, courageous political campaign waged by hundreds of women and men over the next 71 years (Yes, it took 71 years!) culminated in women in the US winning the right to vote on August 26, 1920. That date is commemorated annually as Women's Equality Day, and 2015 marks the 95th anniversary. It is inconceivable from our modern vantage point that our great-grandmothers and grandmothers were legally barred from participating in this most essential aspect of American democracy. May we all aspire to this shining example of courage and persistence as we work to make the world a better place for people of all genders, colors, backgrounds and beliefs.

MORE NEWS

• The Three Biggest Right-Wing Lies About Poverty
• Citizen Bill Draft

EVENTS

• Bloomington Moral Mondays Meeting
• Monroe County Democrats Club July Lunch Meeting
• DWC Fundraiser in August
• Event From the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration Commission

Invite a Friend to Join the DWC
Call to Action

The Three Biggest Right-Wing Lies About Poverty

Last Friday's breakfast discussion about The Myths of Poverty and Addiction was just the beginning of an ongoing discussion for the DWC about economic justice and equality, particularly for women.  In our current divided political climate, these myths, and others, are used for political gain, and the ones who suffer most from congressional and state legislative inaction are those who most need our help.  Robert Reich has long been a champion of economic justice.  Follow this link for his discussion of how the right wing mischaracterizes the issues:http://robertreich.org/post/88708262000

Introducing: CITIZEN BILL DRAFT
Submit your ideas for the next legislative session
From State Senator Mark Stoops' Office

After the Indiana legislative session adjourns, it’s time to begin shaping the proposals that make up next year’s priorities. This year, we want you to share in that process.

• Register and submit ideas you think the Indiana General Assembly should prioritize in the 2016 legislative session
• Vote on other Hoosiers’ ideas
• Senate Democrats will respond to the top three ideas

To submit your ideas:  http://insendems.ideascale.com/
  
UPCOMING EVENTS

Bloomington Moral Mondays Meeting
Indiana Moral Mondays is a statewide coalition inspired by the North Carolina Moral Mondays Movement and committed to making change in Indiana. Moral Mondays is a burgeoning movement, led by Rev. William Barber, the president of NAACP North Carolina, that had its roots in efforts to defend voter rights in the state. The initial civil disobedience protest took place on a Monday. After the initial protesters were arrested, more protesters came on Mondays, growing to thousands. Activists have been mobilizing across the country over the last year - inspired by North Carolina Moral Mondays. They are fighting against efforts to restrict voting rights, workers' rights and women's rights, and for progressive policies in general.

Bloomington Moral Mondays is meeting on Monday, the 20th, at 7:00 p.m. in room 2A of the Monroe County Public Library. Erin Polley will speak on the Indiana Moral Mondays plans for action this fall at the statehouse during the upcoming legislative session. Erin is the program coordinator for the Quaker organization, American Friend Service Committee, in their Indiana Peacebuilding Program, based in Indianapolis. Much of Polley’s work has centered on the human and economic costs of militarism and war, but lately, is focused on transforming state politics. There will also be discussion about Bloomington Moral Mondays’ plans for the fall, including a forum each on PCBs, the fight for $15 minimum wage and education. All are welcome.

Monroe County Democrats Club July Lunch Meeting
The Monroe County Democrats' Club will meet on Tuesday, July 21st at 11:30 a.m. at Bobby's Colorado Steakhouse, 1635 North College Avenue. This is a new location for the club--Bobby has given a special price on their salad bar. The cost of $11.00 includes the unlimited salad bar and soups, a beverage, and gratuity. The speaker will be State Senator Karen Tallian, a Democratic candidate for Indiana Governor. This will be a wonderful opportunity to meet and hear from a candidate who may not have been on our local "radar." The MCDC will also be welcoming Glenda Ritz and John Gregg at future meetings. The public is invited to attend. 

DWC Fundraiser in August
The DWC's annual fundraiser will be August 30th from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Susie Johnson and Dee Tuttle's house at 3974 S. Garrison Chapel Road.  There will be wonderful food and drink, a cake walk, silent auction and square dancing to the rollicking music of the band, Entwyned!  Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door.  You can purchase tickets online at http://www.democraticwomenscaucus.org/calendar.  Please mark the date, get your tickets and spread the word! 

Event From the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration Commission
Power of Words is a bi-annual event presented by The Friends of the Library and Monroe County Public Library. This year, civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis, as well as his co-creators of the graphic novels, March: Book One and March: Book Two (co-writer Andrew Aydin, and local artist Nate Powell), will be the featured speakers discussing their books, which are engaging and award-winning first-hand accounts of Lewis's lifelong struggle for civil and human rights. The Power of Words is a free event and takes place Monday, September 21, at 7:30 p.m. in the Indiana University Auditorium.

Events leading up to the Power of Words event include a civil rights film series on Sundays, August 23rd and 30th and September 6th and 13th.  The first two movies to be screened at the Monroe County Public Library are In the Heat of the Night (August 23) and Mississippi Burning (August 30).

INVITE A FRIEND TO JOIN THE DWC  

Ask a friend, co-worker or colleague who is interested in learning more about making a positive impact on the presence of women in office to accompany you to our monthly breakfast or to one of the local political events.
The DWC is open to progressives regardless of gender or sexual orientation.  Join any time.  Only $20 for one year’s membership.  Join online here. 

CALL TO ACTION!   
From Nancy Pelosi

Today is the 167th anniversary of the Seneca Falls Convention -- the first women's rights convention in American history.  Today, we honor the women that came before us. They toiled and suffered to achieve the same rights as their husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers.  We would be kidding ourselves if we thought that fight was over. Whenever a woman gets paid less for the same job as a man, or is denied the right to make her own healthcare decisions, we know there is much more to fight for.  In memory of those women who made it possible for me to sit here and send you this email as the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House, I want to leave you with this quote:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights...” -- Elizabeth Cady Stanton, The Declaration of Sentiments, Seneca Falls, 1848

Click here to Join me in standing with the women of Seneca Falls and promising to continue our fight for equal rights.

Do you have news items? Send your items of interest to us at[email protected]. Deadline for MMN is noon on Sunday.

Democratic Women's Caucus  http://www.democraticwomenscaucus.org/