EMILYs List Releases New Video: “She Persists”
February 8, 2017
EMILY's List Releases New Video: “She Persists”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today EMILY's List, the nation's largest resource for women in politics, released a new video, “She Persists.” This is following Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s failed attempt to silence Senator Elizabeth Warren as she stood up against Sen. Jeff Sessions' nomination for attorney general. The video highlights the pro-choice Democratic women who are leading the charge in speaking out against President Donald Trump's dangerous nominees to his administration and the Supreme Court; from Sen. Maria Cantwell, who grilled Rick Perry on his past suggestion to abolish the Department of Energy; to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who questioned General James Mattis on women in the military; to Sen. Warren, who pressed Trump’s education pick Betsy DeVos on her lack of experience with America’s public education system.
“Mitch McConnell saw last night what we've known for a long time – that when you try to silence Elizabeth Warren, you'd better believe she won't back down,” said EMILY's List President Stephanie Schriock. “From Senators Warren to Dianne Feinstein to Amy Klobuchar, Democratic women have held Donald Trump's nominees' feet to the fire on their dangerous records, lack of understanding of the positions they hope to hold, and the un-American policies Donald Trump is trying to steamroll through this White House.”
Background: Last night Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, backed by the rest of the Senate Republicans, censored Sen. Elizabeth Warren for quoting a letter from Coretta Scott King, in which the civil rights icon vehemently objected to Jeff Sessions’ federal judgeship nomination. McConnell’s censorship attempt backfired; she finished reading the letter outside the Senate floor and millions of Americans watched on Facebook, joining her in voicing their opposition to President Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general. As a result, “She Persists” began as a rallying cry around Elizabeth Warren and Americans' refusal to allow women's voices to be silent.
EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, has raised over $500 million to support pro-choice Democratic women candidates – making them one of the most successful political organizations ever. Our grassroots community of over five million members helps Democratic women wage competitive campaigns – and win. We recruit and train candidates, support strong campaigns, research the issues that impact women and families, and turn out women voters. Since our founding in 1985, we have trained nearly 10,000 women to run and helped elect 116 women to the House, 23 to the Senate, 12 governors, and over 800 to state and local office. Forty percent of the candidates EMILY’s List has helped elect to Congress have been women of color – including every single Latina, African American, and Asian American Democratic congresswoman currently serving.
