The Gathering for Justice Recognizes National Women’s History Month

[NEW YORK,NY] - March isn't just any month - it's National Women's History Month and in celebration of International Women’s Day, The Gathering for Justice is taking a moment to recognize the countless contributions that women have made throughout history. From the suffragettes who fought for our right to vote to the fierce activists leading our movements for justice and equity today, women have always been the driving force of progress.

Our organization is led by Black and Latina women and we are shattering barriers and making history every day. We use an intersectional and intergenerational approach and a gender lens to solve the problems of over-policing and mass incarceration. We are unapologetically pushing for change and demanding a better future for all while creating the beloved community that Dr. Martin Luther King dreamt of.

As a Chicana feminist, wife, mother, femtor, organizer, and justice seeker, I believe in uplifting those around me, especially women. And I continue to fight for this in my everyday work at The Gathering for Justice. That’s why we center the leadership of people who are directly impacted by systemic injustice. It’s why the biggest mobilizations we’ve incubated have been made up of intersectional and intercultural coalitions.

For nearly 22 years, I have been a thought leader in racial justice and intersectional feminism, building the bridge to connect different generations, cultures and identities. In 2017, I proudly served as one of the National Co-Chairs of the Women’s March, which drew over 5 million participants worldwide in resistance to hatred and bigotry, affirming women’s rights as human rights.

Last year, I assembled exonerated women, community activists and influencers like Yandy Smith-Harris and Edie Falco for a public service announcement called “Moms For Melissa”. After more than 14 years of Melissa Lucio being convicted for the death of her two-year-old daughter, who fell down the stairs and sustained serious injuries that later resulted in her death, our collective efforts to mobilize along with the work of many women including her lawyers led to seeking a stay of her execution, which saved Melissa’s life.

The Gathering continues to initiate and attend numerous rallies and gatherings advocating for the rights and civil liberties for women. We joined in solidarity to let the world know what happened in Kansas City with former Police Detective Roger Golubski who was allowed to prey on dozens of Black and Latina women for years. He was later indicted by a federal grand jury on six counts of civil rights violations.

In December of 2022, we gathered with multiple women’s and violence prevention organizations to show solidarity and support Megan Thee Stallion at the courthouse as she recalled the tragic events that took place on July 12, 2020. In early November, I signed a letter in support of Megan, along with dozens of high-profile women leaders and my peers. A jury later found that Tory Lanez was guilty on all charges for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in July 2020.

Behold the power and glory of our collective efforts. Let it be known that I am bursting with pride not just because of the work we do but also for the extraordinary women I am blessed to work with. We celebrate our feminine force not only during this special month but every single day, as we recognize and uplift each other's immeasurable contributions. Let us never forget that being a woman in a leadership role is no walk in the park. We often face unjust underestimation, insufficient resources, never-ending workloads, limited representation and a perpetual pitting against one another. However, I dare to believe that through the radical power of love, harnessed by the tenets of Kingian Nonviolence, and driven by a deep commitment to Inlakesh and holistic healing, we can accomplish anything and lead our organizations to magnificent heights with a feminist vision that prioritizes not only those we serve, but also those we work alongside each day. 

I want to remind us of the words of the late Coretta Scott King. She once said, "Women, if the soul of this nation is to be saved, I believe that you must become its soul." So I ask you, are you ready to make a difference? Are you ready to find your voice, your lane and your power?

The time for action is now. We need to lead with love and compassion. We need to get involved in marches or rallies, launch letter-writing campaigns and have courageous conversations. We need to get out and vote, and make our voices heard at every level of government. We need to create awareness of the injustices happening in our communities, in our states, in our countries, and around the world.

This is not the responsibility of one person or one group. It's the responsibility of all of us. We all have a part to play in creating a better world for women and girls, and it starts with taking action. 

So let's follow Coretta's lead and become the soul of this nation. Let's inspire and uplift each other to make a difference and create a brighter future for ourselves and generations to come.

This is our chance, today, to make HERstory matter.

In community,

Carmen Perez-Jordan
President & CEO