When the ‘Vagina Monologues’ was first performed in 1996, it was a monumental moment for the feminist movement. It gave survivors of sexual assault and violence, and women as a whole, language for the feelings they had been having for years. It made them feel seen. Last night, playwright behind the famous feminist work, activist and founder of the movements V Day and One Billion Rising, Eve Ensler, gave a powerful speech in San Jose, California. And in that speech, she endorsed presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders.
The Vagina Monologues were such a big part of my college and grad school experience. They helped me understand my womanhood and meet other survivors, who became lifelong friends.
Eve Ensler endorsing my boss is freaking surreal!!!? https://t.co/yhbcc4RlJc
— Marissa D. Barrera (@mdb2) March 3, 2020
Ensler titled Sanders’ campaign the movement she had been waiting for, giving a riveting speech that outlines just why many American’s believe Sanders is the candidate and the president we all need. She began, “As a feminist and a supporter of women’s rights, I was initially surprised to find myself supporting an older white man,” a sentiment many feminist Sanders fans might relate to. “But we all have many pieces within us,” she continued. “I am anti-imperialist, I’m a feminist, I’m an anti-racist, I’m a pansexual, I’m a climate change activist, I’m a survivor, I’m an artist, and we must rise to challenge, holding and prioritizing all of these moving parts. I believe Bernie Sanders is the best choice for the most vulnerable amongst us.” Ensler’s statement perfectly encapsulates what the progressive movement is all about: It is a movement that supports working families, people of color, people of all different gender identities, sexualities and religions coming together in the name of issues like climate change, imperialism, racism and more.
Listen to what Eve Ensler, the prominent feminist, playwright, author, and lifelong activist had to say about how the progressive movement is fighting for the rights of ALL oppressed people. Speech is at 34:40 https://t.co/ChEsp8TQG0
— Allen Wang (@Allnwang) March 2, 2020
Many feminists are saying that for them, this is the biggest Bernie endorsement yet. V Day, one of Ensler’s two organizations, is a non-profit that distributes funds to pograms that fight violence against women and girls around the world. Her other group, One Billion Rising (a nod to how many women and girls are beaten or raped in their lifetime), a mass movement that is held each February in a call to end violence against womxn. This makes Ensler just the latest in a line of activists endorsing Sanders.
In her speech, the writer also went on to highlight the #NursesForBernie movement. She referred to how her nurses were the real heros when she was battling stage 3-4 uterine cancer a few years back. “Nurses represent the very best of what it means to be a human being,” she stated. A huge part of the Nurses For Bernie movement revolves around his passion for worker’s rights and Medicare for all. The point Ensler made in her speech about everyone being a combination of moving parts is exactly why so many feminists, workers and activists are rallying behind the Bernie campaign. “Do you feel that energy?” the writer stated, “That’s the energy of the people of America who got left out, finally finding each other.” From nurses to artists, like Ensler said, a campaign by the people for the people might just be the movement we’ve all been waiting for.
“Nurses represent the very best of what it means to be a human being.”
Feminist ICON Eve Ensler gives a shout out to #NursesForBernie at a @BernieSanders in San Jose ahead of #SuperTuesday. ❤️ ✊? pic.twitter.com/BbQeUC1Omu
— Bonnie Castillo (@NNUBonnie) March 2, 2020
Image via Bonnie Castillo on Twitter
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