“Senator Warren was giving a lengthy speech. She had appeared to violate the rule. She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.”
That quote is from Senator Mitch McConnell to explain why the Senate voted to rebuke Senator Elizabeth Warren. They said she impugned attorney general nominee Jeff Sessions’s character. By attempting to read a letter written by Coretta Scott King.
You have to wonder, what was Warren’s greatest offense? Giving a lengthy speech? Appearing to violate a rule? Persisting despite being mansplained? Personally I think it boils down to something simpler: Warren is a woman with power. There aren’t many things scarier to a power-hungry man. And before you accuse me of reverse sexism, consider this: after Warren was punished and forced to sit down and stop talking, Senator Jeff Merkley stood up and read the letter to the Senate himself.
Did you get that? Another Senator—a man—read the letter that Warren was punished for reading.
Are you a woman who has been told to sit down and be quiet? Are you a woman who has been told she talks too much? Are you a women who has been called bossy? Abrasive? Yep, me too. #yesallwomen
So when I read the words, “Nevertheless, she persisted,” I realized it wasn’t just another insulting comment aimed at a powerful woman. It was a new rallying cry. So I made t-shirts.
Perfect for all your female and feminist friends. And profits will be donated to EMILY’s List, an organization working hard to get progressive women elected to office.
Click here to get yours today!
If you happen to be local to Charlotte, NC, select the CHARLOTTE LOCAL option to order without shipping. You can pick it up at Moxie Mercantile in Plaza-Midwood, or we can arrange an alternate pickup.
Thank you to Maya Meyers for pushing me to make the shirts. And thank you to all the powerful women in my life who persist every day, nevertheless.