Make It Right

It was with great disappointment that I watched some in the Mississippi legislature let the SAFER Act die on Monday night at the 11th hour, despite what we were told all session and even hours before the bill died.

It passed both chambers with overwhelming majorities. We have large majorities of self-identified, so-called “conservatives” in both chambers. But when it mattered most, some lawmakers chose not to reach an agreement on this bill. As a result, unless lawmakers act NOW, Mississippi girls and women will be hurt—our girls and women will continue to be unprotected in their safe and private spaces.

I have no explanation for you of how a “Republican super-majority” could let this happen—but I challenge all REPUBLICAN lawmakers NOW: MAKE IT RIGHT IMMEDIATELY, NO MATTER WHAT. No more excuses, no more blame, especially with 95% of Mississippi voters behind a bill such as this, and that’s Mississippi Democrats, Independents, and Republicans united.

If this crucial bill does not pass, sadly, all involved will be blamed. But we have so many heroes on this bill— I especially cannot thank Senator Josh Harkins and Representative Celeste Hurst enough. They have championed this bill the entire way. They have modeled what it looks like to work together across chambers on behalf of what is right and good and true. And on behalf of what Mississippi voters want.

Since this bill was introduced at the beginning of the session:

• A man was arrested for looking under stalls in women’s restroom at D’Iberville MS Walmart
• A man was accused of peeping into dressing room at woman changing clothes at the Flowood Target
• The Biden administration released new regulations that essentially change the definition of sex and will remove all protections for girls and women. See my op-ed here

We could go on. But here’s where we are.

The legislature can work this language into other bills. And they can do so many other things—IF they want it to happen, it will. We are not here to blame anyone for not advancing the SAFER Act. We simply call on the legislature TO MAKE IT HAPPEN NOW—protect Mississippi women and girls.

Abraham Lincoln famously said:  “We cannot escape history. We will be remembered in spite of ourselves. We hold the power and we bear the responsibility.”

Our lawmakers hold this power, but also this responsibility. And it will be remembered in history who protected women and little girls’ rights in our state—and we thank you.

Please take the time to call your lawmakers one last time and ask them to find a way to support the SAFER Act now.

There is no time to waste—the deadline is this Thursday, May 2nd.

Capitol Switchboard: 601-359-3770.

Find your Representative here: https://pluralpolicy.com/find-your-legislator/

Your support means so much!