If you haven’t been paying attention, the last two months have shaken America.
• May 4, a leaked Supreme Court document shows Roe v. Wade would be overturned.
On May 14, 10 people were murdered and another three injured for being Black in a Buffalo, New York, grocery store;
• May 24, 19 schoolchildren and two teachers were murdered without cause in an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas;
• June 12, 20 Senators announce a bipartisan gun safety framework — a first of its kind in three decades;
• June 23, the Supreme Court Struck down a New York State law that restricted concealed carry in a significant Second Amendment case;
• June 24, the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, ending 50 years of women’s right to an abortion. Contraception and marriage equality should be next, says Justice Clarence Thomas;
• June 25, President Biden signs the Safer Communities Act into law, making it the first significant bipartisan gun safety law in a generation; and
• Since May 2022, there have been 124 mass shootings, leaving 141 dead and 565 injured, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
And between all these major events, the Jan. 6 commission has laid out for the American people everything that President Trump and his cronies did to try to steal an election.
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With just a few sprinkles of hope, America seems to be on a path no different from what we’ve seen in countries like Venezuela, Nicaragua or Russia. A minority party is holding America hostage against its own political will. Most Americans support a woman’s right to choose. Most Americans support gun safety. Most Americans support marriage equality.
The dismantling of America’s fundamental rights for those who aren’t women, of color, disabled or LGBTQ+ is happening right in front of us. U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, of Illinois, recently called the overturning of Roe v. Wade a “victory for white life” with Donald Trump standing next to her while her comment drew cheers from the crowd. A spokesperson later said she meant to say “right to life” but misspoke.
Why does this keep happening? Not enough of us vote. Republicans do a good job of creating barriers to voting. Democrats do a poor job of registering and activating voters.
Why don’t more of us vote? Many of us don’t see ourselves reflected in elected officials because they don’t look like us, love like us or are seen by the world like us. Because voting is harder than buying a gun in most states. Because we keep saying, “my vote doesn’t count.” Because we are not doing the work to get more people of color voting, particularly Latinos in our state.
We have allowed misinformation to reign supreme without the ability to decipher what’s true and what’s not — even right here in San Mateo County! About 41% of the folks who voted in the Assembly district primary voted for a candidate that got more than $1 million in funding from oil companies, real estate, and anti-renter rights groups. We were bombarded by misinformation about her opponent, and we bought it.
Many of us also skip out on voting down the ballot. We vote for the president, U.S. Senate, House of Representatives and governor, then drop off. Learning about city council, school board and water district candidates is a lot of homework. But, we must do just a little bit of reading — those city council and school board members can go on to become county supervisors, U.S. senators, and representatives.
This fall, we need to elect experienced women, people of color, and Gun Sense Candidates — some of you may jump up and say, “I don’t see color or gender; I will vote for the best person for the job.” Who better to fight for women than women themselves? Who better to bring equity and opportunity for all than those that haven’t experienced it? Who better than those who have stood up to fight gun violence or experienced it themselves?
My fellow Americans, we have a duty to our families and neighbors — vote in their interest because when they do better, we all do better.
You can do something about all these issues we keep reading about in the news. Text ‘ACT’ to 64433 and help reduce gun violence in America. Text ‘CONNECT’ to 22422 to support women’s choice. With action, you can help take America back.
Rudy Espinoza Murray is a father, husband, Redwood City resident and community organizer. All opinions are his own.
(24) comments
Just pile it on Rudy. You probably do not even realize that all of the Supreme Court decisions actually gave rights back to the people. I agree with you that voters have the power as long as they show up. The ultra left agenda that you push is a turn off for many, likely a reason for low turnout.
Dirk: Roe v. Wade “given back to” - what people? Scruffy old Republicans uncomfortable around girls and women of childbearing age, or religion infested old women beyond childbearing age? To me, and the vast majority of more sane people, it looks like an important right was taken away from those most intimately affected.
Perhaps Congress could do their job and actually pass a law for a real law most people desire that is less subjective to interpretation of the Courts . Gun control legislation a few months ago was unimaginable, but it just passed. But it is an election year and politicians are ultimately more concerned with having their seat another two years versus doing the right thing.
"women beyond childbearing age..." i take it that would include the women on SCOTUS,
Yes, except that only one of them is religiously infested.
They are "Ivy League" infested.
Jorfg - another low for you in the sequence of nonsense. Since when are only Republican men uncomfortable around young girls? The Decision was to return the abortion issue to each state so that each legislature can codify for their constituents. These include right to lifers and baby killers. As you live in this immoral State, you don't have to worry about abortions. Don't insult these women who value life. Do your homework the next time as your mother likely instructed you to do, yet in vain.
Dirk, "immoral state"? By whose measurement other than your own? Do you not see the immorality of all the Republican SCOTUS judges lying under oath, otherwise called perjury, that Roe was settled law and not to be reversed? They lied just to be confirmed. And Dirk, please don't insult women who value their own life, and by extension, their own health decisions.
Mr. Murray, your divisive rhetoric does nothing to Make America Great Again. Meanwhile in Biden’s America, 46 migrants in Texas die due to Biden’s open border policies, inflation is through the roof, durable goods orders stagnate, the manufacturing index drops below expectations, the CDC uses false data to approve the COVID jab for kids, oil prices are through the roof, there are multiple insurrections in America because people are ignorant of the US Constitution regarding a non-existent “right” to an abortion, etc. Stolen elections have consequences. BTW, out of your mass shooting statistics, how many occurred in gun-controlled Chicago? How many occurred with legally obtained guns?
Terence Y: You got that one right, that stolen elections have consequences! We have seen what happened when Trump tried to steal the last one! Imagine if he had gotten away with it! And for the record: Do you mean that mass shootings are OK if done by legally obtained guns, like the last school massacre in Uvaldi?
Yes, Jorg, stolen elections have consequences - consequences so dire that you’re not able to list any treasonous Biden accomplishments. Instead, all you can do is deflect. BTW, thanks for the exclamation points. They’re about the only valid points you make.
Rudy… good morning
We have crossed swords in the past… but not always.
I like what you said about “a few sprinkles of hope” being out there. There are. Let’s turn them into something positive. There is only a fraction of the electorate that wants to see our country go the way of Venezuela, Nicaragua, etc. That fraction is the 12% of the Democratic Party known as progressives. To be fair, the 23% of Republicans who identify as the “faith and flag” component of their party should not get their way either.
You wrote, “Most Americans support a woman’s right to choose. Most Americans support gun safety. Most Americans support marriage equality.” Yes, most Americans, about 70%, believe a woman has a right to choose an abortion early in a pregnancy. Hopefully, Californians will get a chance to vote on making sure women can make that choice. The law in California should also provide for victims of rape and incest to make the same choice. Plus, women facing life threatening medical complications should be able to have an abortion late in a pregnancy. It is equally true that most Americans, about 80%, believe an abortion late in a pregnancy should not be made available. Here’s the tough question… where is that point around which we can agree that an unborn child is viable and that child deserves their right to life?
Most Americans support gun safety. Hallelujah! Congress is finally moving in that direction. Let’s keep guns out of the hands of those who would use them violently. Like you said… “a few sprinkles of hope.”
Most Americans support marriage equality… and that should be an even higher number than 80%. A single Supreme Court justice believes marriage equality may merit reexamination by the Court as a matter of equal protection. Fortunately, that point of view is the perspective of a single person. Marriage equality… in whatever form it takes… between two loving people is protected.
You are right to encourage people to vote. Here’s where we will tip our glasses with a nod to politely disagree. You wrote, “Who better to bring equity and opportunity for all than those that haven’t experienced it?” How about the best qualified candidate… regardless of race, gender or orientation?
Ray, for your and Rudy's information, I heard the Governor of Mississippi state today that their laws are very strict but there are exceptions, including pregnancies resulting from rape, incest and those threatening the life of the mother. As usual, the pro-choice fans are overreacting and needlessly scaring off others with less biased views.
Thanks, Dirk
I agree, "the pro-choice fans are overreacting and needlessly scaring off others..." Additionally, they fail to mention that Europe's abortion policies are more restrictive than those generally found in the US. That's what makes the statement by POTUS that the Supreme Court decision last week makes the US an outlier worthy of four pinocchio's. It's just not true. I am still hoping that sensible laws will be put in place in every state that will allow women to make a choice early in a pregnancy.
Hi Ray, not sure where you got that the EU is more restrictive. Here is a fact sheet that can help clarify where the EU stands on abortion: https://reproductiverights.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/European-abortion-law-a-comparative-review.pdf
And here is the US: https://fullerproject.org/story/how-major-abortion-laws-compare-state-by-state-map/
Ray,
I am not sure what all the fuss is about. Prostitution is banned, illegal drugs are banned, if they banned abortion there will be no abortions just like there is no prostitution or illegal drugs, right?
Hi, Rudy
Sorry, I was tied up with meetings yesterday in the late afternoon and evening. I have a response for you. Thanks for your patience.
EU countries are more restrictive with respect to abortion policy.
I checked your links to a couple of maps that color code EU countries and US states based on which political entities permit abortions upon request, but we can get a truer picture of abortion restrictions by examining the policies of each EU member nation and each US state. Information for the EU is pretty straightforward… they have not been turned upside down by a recent court ruling. Data for the US is not quite so clear cut as trigger laws, not yet in effect, will change the number of states that permit abortions upon request.
The EU has 27 members, and most of them permit abortions upon request. Please note… with respect to the EU members that permit abortions upon request, 85% of those member nations permit abortions only up to the 14-week mark. One EU member permits abortions up to viability.
Over the next couple of months, some US states plan to ban abortion. They should be included in the “no abortion” category now. That’s fair. Looking at abortion upon request policies, like the EU, most US states permit abortions upon request. However, unlike the EU, every state that permits abortions… 100% of them… allows abortions upon request beyond the 14-week mark. While only one EU member permits abortion up to viability, nineteen US states have such a policy. Additionally, six US states allow for abortions upon request beyond viability… no EU members permit abortions upon request that late in a pregnancy. None.
That bears repeating… Nineteen US states permit abortions upon request up to viability vs one EU member that does so. Six US states permit abortions upon request beyond viability vs zero EU members that do so.
EU countries are more restrictive with respect to abortion policy.
Hey, Tafhdyd
I'm going to have to wait until 5pm to catch you to you on this one... [smile]
I'd rather we agree on most things than none at all. :)
"How about the best qualified candidate… regardless of race, gender or orientation?" what I'm saying is that there are women, POC, and LGBTQ+ folks that are MORE qualified in many of the races, yet somehow we many times default to someone else. That's the point I'm making.
Rudy - if they are more qualified, how come we don't know about them? Is it just money or their qualifications are subjective. I believe most folks here in the county will vote for anyone who stands out. While I did not agree, it looks like one of your favorites will become the next Sheriff. I believe that labeling candidates, as you tend to do, is a turn off. That is not the American way. Ray is correct, how do we push forward the best qualified regardless of the labels?
Hi, Rudy
"... somehow we many times default to someone else." I'm sure you will agree that elections can be largely a popularity contest. The reality is... voters may cast their ballots for the candidate of their choice for whatever reason they find most appealing. Voters have that right.
You have been very vocal in your columns re: supporting women, POC, and LGBTQ+ folks for office, and I enjoy reading your point of view concerning office seekers you believe are the best candidates. Here's my question... which candidate endorsed by you do you believe was clearly better qualified than the person who won?
BTW... even though I was quarantined with COVID during this month's election, I was still able to vote. In the 12 races that listed candidates' party affiliation, I voted for conservative candidates... 9 of those 12 were women, persons of color or both. Only one of those candidates will move on to the Nov. 8 general election. Again... elections can be largely a popularity contest.
Very well written Rudy! Thank you for continuing to provide voice for the under-represented in San Mateo County!
Spot on Rudy. Voting down the ballot is important. Local and state elections are important. The scheme of the zealots for the past 30 years has been to gain power at the state level, whether by spending the money, gerrymandering or whatever it took. And it is paying off for them now big time.
Laws and candidates bubble up from the state level. Anyone who is mad or scared can hook in to a group working on electing Democrats to state-level offices across the country or on voting rights in voter-suppression states. There are many such groups. I find it so helpful to my mental health be engaged in these groups instead of despairing, and the people I meet who are doing the work needed to protect us and our democracy are inspiring.
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