Justice for Tyre Nichols

LWVSC stands with our community partner, MLK Saratoga, in condemning the murder of Tyre Nichols and calling for accountability. Justice calls for change in the racist systems perpetuating the unconscionable number of deaths of Black people committed under the veil of public safety.

MLK Saratoga statement:

MLK Saratoga demands justice for Tyre Nichols and the countless Black people who are disproportionally violated and murdered by police. Justice that includes both accountability for the officers who beat and killed Tyre, and also calls for accountability for the systems which consistently perpetuate this violence.

Justice will not bring back the lives of Tyre Nichols or any others who have been murdered by law enforcement. But we can honor these precious lives by fighting for a democracy that values each and every person. When our systems continue to enact violence on Black bodies, our democracy is fractured and our humanity is compromised.

All over the United States, people are demonstrating and protesting in the streets to demand justice and to visibly and collectively mourn. This is what a healthy democracy looks like. We stand with these activists as they exercise their right to assemble and voice their grief and outage.

We mourn with the family of Tyre Nichols. We hold them and the families of other victims of police violence in our hearts. May our collective mourning and outrage bring us closer together. We must employ Dr. King’s Beloved Community Mindset to bring meaningful change to these unjust systems, and healing to our wounded nation.

Ann Marie Pendergast 2/2/2023

Your right to vote without intimidation

Patricia Nugent October 31, 2022

The League of Women Voters of Saratoga County is reminding registered voters that it is their legal and constitutional right to cast a vote without harassment, interference, or intimidation.

The League has been combating voter suppression efforts and legislation since its inception in 1920. We’ve seen a renewed surge of denied access since 2013 when the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was gutted by the Supreme Court. But making it hard for certain citizens to vote has recently devolved into a more dangerous mission: Voter intimidation, especially of more vulnerable populations. Since 2020, there has been a concerted effort by some groups to train poll watchers to disrupt and challenge voting across our nation. Various methods are being employed.

Might you be intimidated if someone with a guard dog on a chain was standing near the ballot box? Or taking your photograph? Or erroneously reporting that you are ineligible to vote for various reasons? This is unacceptable in a democracy, and the LWV will not stand for it. Casting doubt on election integrity is one way to destroy a democracy – it’s dangerous and destructive to erode public confidence in the electoral system. Therefore, any attempts to dissuade voter participation should be reported immediately.

The NYS League of Women Voters is assuring voters that systems are in place in NY to conduct secure, reliable, and fair elections. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, the actual incidence of voter fraud in the U.S. ranges from 0.0003 to 0.0025 percent, less than the odds of being struck by lightning.

If you encounter a challenge or interference at the polls, do not leave the site without voting UNLESS you feel physically threatened. The LWV advises that any attempts to dissuade or influence voting should be reported to the Attorney General’s hotline at 866-390-2992. Another hotline available to guide voters and take meaningful action to address problems is the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law. They are staffed with well‐trained volunteers and pro bono attorneys from around the country. They also have assistance available in multiple languages. The phone number for the Election Protection Hotline is 1-866-687-8683 (1-866-OUR-VOTE).

Early voting runs for nine days before the election, from October 29 through November 6, at various polling places. Any registered voter can vote at any of those designated sites within their county during this period. On Election Day, voters can only cast a ballot at the polling place in their own election district. For more information about what’s on your ballot, visit www.vote411.org/ballot, funded by the League of Women Voters Education Fund.

Thank you for being part of our mission to keep our democracy viable and vibrant. These are challenging times, but we are hopeful that reason will win out and our nation will heal.

Support the Environmental Bond Ballot Proposal

On November 8th, 2022, New York voters will have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect clean water, update infrastructure, build parks, and improve quality of life in every county of the state.

The League of Women Voters of New York State is supporting the Vote Yes for Clean Water & Jobs coalition which is leading the campaign to encourage voters to approve the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Bond Act in the general election this November.

The Coalition believes that the top reasons for supporting the bond act are:

• Clean Drinking Water: The Bond Act will protect clean drinking water, a priceless resource.

• Modern Infrastructure: The measure will bring much-needed upgrades to outdated roads, sewer systems, and drinking water pipes.

• Local Jobs: The Bond Act will support nearly 100,000 good jobs.'

• Public Health: The measure will add street trees, reduce lead exposure, increase energy efficiency, and improve air quality.

• Wildlife Habitat: The Bond Act will conserve wildlife habitats and increase access to parks, nature centers, campgrounds, and public waterfronts.

Don’t forget to flip your ballot over on election day this fall to vote for the Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022. Election day is Tuesday, November 8, this year, and early voting is available from October 29 - November 6th.

Fact Sheet on the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Bond Act from the Vote Yes for Clean Water and Jobs Coalition

We Won’t Go Back!

Patricia Nugent August 7, 2022

“I read the news today, oh boy…”

That lyric isn’t the only throwback from the 1960s, when activists were challenging long-
standing social ills, taking to the streets for women’s rights, racial justice, gay rights. When war
was raging overseas and in our streets, when voting rights were denied, when the Klan openly
marched and lynched, and women bled to death in dirty backrooms. When illegal political tricks
were used to impact election results.

Here we are again. Back to the future.

We know you feel overwhelmed and exhausted. Didn’t we right those wrongs? The very reason
the League of Women Voters was founded over 100 years ago is the reason Americans are
marching and protesting today. As a national organization, we continue to be on the front lines
fighting voter suppression and reproductive restrictions. We are a voice for inclusive
democracy, for principles that honor and protect diversity.

The League is more relevant than ever today. There are more than 700 chapters in this country;
ours is one of the strongest, advocating and lobbying for legislation to protect human rights and
promote social justice. We have over 200 members, affording a political-yet-nonpartisan
opportunity to DO something rather than wring our hands as we listen to news reports of the
downturn this country is taking.

We’re distributing buttons that read “We Won’t Go Back!” And we won’t! Stop by one of our
events to get your free button, and wear it with pride and defiance. Please consider inviting a
friend who’s also wondering how to be an effective force for change. The greater our number,
the greater our ability to stand strong against oppression.

Misrepresenting Susan B. Anthony on Abortion

by Linda McKenney, Storyteller and Historical Reenactor

Some anti-abortion activists are misrepresenting Susan B. Anthony, one of the early women’s rights leaders. They are claiming that Miss Anthony would support making abortions illegal if she were alive today.

This assertion is purported based on an article written anonymously that appeared in The Revolution, a women’s rights newspaper that Miss Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton published from 1868 to 1870. “A,” the author of the article referred to abortion as “child-murder.”

Because the article was signed “A,” these activists claim it was written by Miss Anthony herself. However, a study of every page of The Revolution reveals many articles signed “S.B.A.,” which would seem to indicate that when Miss Anthony authored an article, she used her own initials.

Additionally, upon scrutiny, one can see that many of the articles signed “A” were on subjects of which Miss Anthony had no expertise. And an article by “A” quarreled with The Revolution‘s position on capital and labor, which lead to a debate in a subsequent issue in which the editors addressed its author as “Mr. A,” which would strongly suggest that it was someone other than Miss Anthony.

While Miss Anthony used the word abortion in one of her speeches, she did not say that she supported making it illegal. She listed seeking an abortion as one of the possible consequences of being the wife of an alcoholic husband, who may impregnate his wife and then leave her with no means to support the child. Miss Anthony mentioned abortion again later in the same speech, this time only in the context of the injustice of laws that intimately affect women but are made and enforced by men.

Anthony’s long career of public speaking provided many occasions for her to speak about abortion, if she’d chosen to do so. The plain fact, however, is that Susan B. Anthony almost never referred to abortion, and when she did, she said nothing to indicate that she wanted it banned by law.