A special thanks to everyone who submitted clips. Your creativity and vision have also inspired a few words from our Executive Director, Kierra Johnson.

Roe V. Wade holds importance for me, not only because it legalized abortion in the United States. It is important because it symbolized and continues to symbolize a vision realized. It exemplified for us all that grassroots efforts make all of the difference. Women at home, women in the work force, women of color, self-identified feminists and women’s rights activists, and those radical women who grew their roots in other movements, elected officials, clergy, vigilante service providers and students came together to make a statement. Together they declared that women don’t just matter, but that the full realization of women’s rights is essential to ensuring a just society. Freedom from slavery was never enough, the vote was never enough, the equal right amendment would never be enough, and the landmark case of Roe v. Wade was never intended to be enough. Roe v. Wade is a reminder that we are on a journey for justice and that we have had some victories along the way. It continues to teach us that we can never grow complacent and that building across movements and nurturing relationships beyond our comfort is the only way to move forward. So I charge you to forge ahead and continue to lay the tracks of progress. On the way lets take some time to appreciate and pay homage to those who got us this far.

To name a few: Byllye Avery, Heather Booth (and Jane), Shirley Chisholm, Constance Cook, Dolores Huerta, George Michaels, Sandra Day O’Connor, Sarah Weddington, Gloria Steinem, Ruth Bell, Jane Pincus, and Norma Swenson…

Please help me add to this list by leaving a comment and sending a shout out to those who hold special meaning to you on this day.

Happy Birthday to all of you who have worked tirelessly pre and post 1973 to create a just world for women!

With admiration,

Kierra Johnson, Executive Director