In the wake of last week’s election results, She Leads Justice has been reflecting deeply on where we’ve been, where we stand, and where we need to go. We are still here, carrying forward the work started by visionary women who, more than half a century ago, founded this organization in 1973 as a women’s rights law firm in a time of historic change and challenge. Those women, who stood in solidarity as Roe v. Wade was decided, understood that the fight for justice was not a moment but a movement.
This moment feels heavy— a step backward. But we have been here before.
We know that justice for women, particularly for those most marginalized—Black women and women of color, immigrant women, queer women, trans women, women with disabilities, and poor women—is not only about women’s rights but about the larger fight for dignity and freedom for all. We recognize that our communities are in pain and too many people feel abandoned, struggling under the weight of economic hardship and systemic injustice. As advocates, we also recognize that we have the power to build a better way if we choose to act in solidarity.
To white women, we say this:
Solidarity requires your continued commitment to fighting the systems—white supremacy, patriarchy, poverty—that harm us all even when you are tired and feel overwhelmed. Standing alongside Black women and women of color means more than attendance at a single event or wearing a symbol to show your alignment. We need your consistent allyship, rooted in justice, not convenience.
To our elected leaders, hear us:
Now is the time for political courage and bold, transformative action. Connecticut must continue to be a place where human dignity, justice and democracy are defended—a firewall for those across the country who need us. We ask you to be champions for policies, especially those that address income and wealth gaps, that reflect our shared values and build up our communities, especially those most affected by racial and gender disparities.
As daunting as it seems, this work must not be hopeless. American history shows us that change, even when difficult, is possible. From the fight to abolish slavery to the struggles to enshrine voting rights for all citizens, every generation has been called upon to move our country forward, and today is no different.
She Leads Justice remains steadfastly invested in our mission to advocate for all women using a justice and equity lens. We will continue to be explicit and vocal about dismantling white supremacy and all forms of racial oppression so that we can become a strong multiracial democracy. We will not stop interrogating the patriarchal practices and beliefs that are so deeply embedded in our culture that limit or deny opportunities, self determination or freedom for women.
We will persist with our policy advocacy efforts for women’s economic security at the Connecticut General Assembly so that lawmakers respond as urgently as possible to the growing needs of the poor, the working class, and the middle-class folks who are struggling to get by.
Join the Movement
To everyone reading this: get ready to take action. We will be bringing our voices to the Capitol, and we need you with us. Our Legislative Change Toolkit and other resources to build your advocacy skills are coming your way—guiding you on how to organize and mobilize for change. We know this is possible because every day we hear from women who are already doing this work, often in the quiet but resilient actions of their daily lives.
This journey won’t be quick or easy. It’s not the work of days, weeks, or months, but years. But together, we are a force. Together, we can create a world in which dignity, equality, and justice for women and for all people are more than aspirations—they are realities.
Please join us.
