Campaign launched in March with ad supporting Vanita Gupta, narrated by Shirley Sherrod; Ads are part of on-going series to support Biden-Harris administration women nominees of color
Washington, D.C.— Today, People For the American Way announced a new addition to the #HerFightOurFight campaign with an ad in support of Kristen Clarke, the Biden-Harris nominee to lead the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.
The ad highlights Kristen Clarke’s time as chief of the Civil Rights Bureau in the Office of the New York Attorney General, where she helped direct investigations and prosecute discrimination cases on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, source of income and disability status.
The ad is narrated by Susan Kartell, an employee of 26 years at Consolidated Edison, Inc., one of the largest energy companies in the United States, and who was a member of a class of women employees whose rights were vindicated by Clarke in a lawsuit for sex discrimination and harassment of female workers. Watch the ad here.
The #HerFightOurFight campaign focuses on securing the Senate confirmations of highly qualified women of color nominated for key posts within the Biden administration who are facing racist and sexist attacks from the Far Right and supporting them from the ongoing attacks they are likely to experience once confirmed.
“Clarke will fight for real justice reform in America and equal rights under the law for all communities,” said People For the American Way President Ben Jealous. “Democracy is facing some of its greatest internal threats, including assaults on Americans’ voting rights, women’s rights, sex and gender identity discrimination and so much more. We need progressive women like Kristen Clarke committed to representing the values of all people.”
“Kristen really did make our fight, her fight. Now we have to make her fight, our fight,” said Kartell. “The fact that she said to Con Ed ‘you will change your ways and you will treat everybody equal’ made me feel heard. She absolutely deserves to be where she is headed, and I know everyone is going to benefit from this.”
“Women of color continue to be the backbone of our communities and of our democracy,” said People for the American Way Political Director Lizet Ocampo. “These ads and the #HerFightOurFight campaign give us the opportunity to step up and fight for these women as they continue to fight for us. It’s time for all of us to support such eminently qualified women of color and for the Senate to confirm them.”
Thefirst ad highlighted Vanita Gupta, the Biden-Harris nominee for Associate Attorney General, as one of the country’s most renowned and effective civil rights advocates, who has dedicated her career to fighting injustice.
The #HerFightOurFight campaign includes ad buys, earned media, social media outreach, live streamed events focusing on how the Far Right attacks women of color in leadership positions, and more.
About People For the American Way
People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity and justice for all. We encourage civic participation, defend fundamental rights, and fight to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable opportunity. Learn more: https://www.pfaw.org.