On July 4th, we celebrate our Nation’s independence, which was founded with a commitment to the rule of law. We are privileged to live in a land whose motto is e pluribus unum–out of many we are one–and that promises liberty and justice for all. That’s worth celebrating each and every day.
History tells us, and we are reminded today, that we cannot take our Nation’s promises for granted. Just one year ago, in the Dobbs decision overruling Roe v. Wade, the current majority on the U.S. Supreme Court ignored almost 50 years of precedent and rolled back a long-established constitutional right. In response, citizens across our nation–including in conservative states such as Kansas, Kentucky, and Montana–fought back, voting to protect reproductive rights. Here in Colorado, we also have stood our ground to protect reproductive freedom as explained in this article.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg, who I was honored to know and work for, spoke to how we approach challenging times like this one. As she called on us to do: “fight for things you care about, and do so in a way that others will join you.” On this July 4th, and beyond, I commit to channeling outrage into action by doing all I can to limit, and ultimately overturn, challenges to our freedoms, including taking cases all the way to the Supreme Court.
This year, I will celebrate July 4th by remembering the vision of our Constitution as a charter for a just, equal, and democratic republic, as advanced by Justice Ginsburg. For some thoughts on Justice Ginsburg’s legacy, here’s a video of my recent talk about her to the Boulder Rotary Club.
