Eleanor “Ellie” Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority Foundation and publisher of Ms. He was awarded the Presidential Citizen’s Medal, the second highest civilian honor. ”
“From leading mass protests in the 1970s to galvanizing the women’s vote, leading the push for equal pay, and helping pass the Violence Against Women Act, Ellie Smeal brought women into the political conversation. “We not only included them, but forced them to equally value women as power brokers,” the White House said in a statement.
Other women’s rights activists say this recognition is long overdue.
“As I recall, going back about 50 years to 1974, Ellie was a leading strategist for the entire women’s movement, for all organizations,” said Kim, former president and former president of the National Organization for Women.・Mr. Gandhi said. CEO of the National Network to End Domestic Violence.
“One of the things that has frustrated all of us over the years is that Ellie didn’t care who got the credit for her great ideas,” Gandy continued. “A lot of times it happened that she would come up with a great idea and another organization would pick it up and run with it, and we’d say, ‘Ellie, aren’t you mad?’ …(And she would say) “No, this is great.” Now you can work on something else. ” …I would like to say that I had the same generosity of spirit that she did, but … as long as the campaign is going on, as long as the bill is being passed, as long as the rally is making a difference, I don’t care who gets the credit.” plug. ”
Peggy Simpson, a former Associated Press reporter and her Washington bureau chief, added: Americans don’t know (them). They don’t know much about feminism or what’s going on in the women’s movement. So I think this is a great award that enhances (Ellie’s) accomplishments. It will enhance it in public. ”
Feminist activist and communications advisor Kathy Bonk said Smeal’s contributions to the movement were wide-ranging.
“So much has happened since the moment she got involved with NOW,” Bonk said. “I met her in 1970, when our local NOW chapter took the Pittsburgh Press case all the way to the Supreme Court. Ellie worked diligently with the man who brought the case, and later filed an employment lawsuit against U.S. Steel (and) the university. of Pittsburgh. …And since child care was not possible for women, they created the first child care center in the Pittsburgh area, almost on a model. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter, (President Richard) Nixon vetoed the child care bill. And she was with Alice Paul on the Equal Rights Amendment. So I can continue to work on all the different issues that she’s been working on. ”
Afghan women’s rights activists say Smir’s leadership stands against gender apartheid.
“Women’s rights in Afghanistan were a very important issue to Ellie,” said Zahra Wakirzada, a soon-to-be diplomat in the U.S. Department of State. “She was one of the first feminist and women’s rights activists in America to be at the forefront of drawing attention to the struggles of Afghan women and the ways in which they have been systematically oppressed for years.”
Afghan human rights activist Makhfi Azizi said, “Elly championed Afghan women and girls at a time when people didn’t even know what was going on in Afghanistan. And she did that. , not because she knew many Afghan women or had been to Afghanistan…but because she really took up that challenge and championed Afghan women and girls and did not condone the actions of the Taliban. They put all their soul and time into 90. …and because of her efforts, the State Department and the United Nations stopped recognizing the Taliban as the legitimate authority in Afghanistan. It means that the normalization of the treatment of women and girls has stopped.”
Terry McCullough, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s chief of staff, said he attended Smeal’s award banquet after the honorable speaker asked him to add his congratulations. That’s because “we have fought with Mr. Elly many times, both at home and abroad, for women’s rights.” Elly’s indomitable spirit helped keep us going through all these battles. .
“She was a hero to all of us.”
The other 19 recipients of the Presidential Citizens Medal on Thursday were Mary L. Bonauto, attorney and same-sex marriage activist; Bill Bradley, record-breaking basketball player and former senator. Frank K. Butler Jr., military veteran and medical pioneer. Elizabeth L. Cheney, former congressman and democracy advocate. Christopher J. Dodd, former senator, diplomat, and Biden advisor. Diane Carlson Evans, nurse and activist. Joseph L. Galloway (posthumously) war correspondent. Nancy Landon Kassebaum, former senator and first female representative from Kansas. Ted Kaufman, former senator, court reform advocate, and Biden advisor. Carolyn McCarthy, nurse, former senator, and gun safety activist. Louis Lorenzo Redding (posthumously), civil rights activist and first black lawyer admitted to the bar in Delaware. Bobby Sager, photographer and philanthropist. Collins J. Seitz (posthumously), former Delaware judge and the first person in America to integrate white public schools. Benny G. Thompson, Past Representative and January 6th Committee Chair. Mitsuyoshi Tsutsumi (posthumously) fought for Japanese Americans all the way to the Supreme Court. Thomas J. Valerie, military veteran and champion of world peace. Frances M. Visco, cancer survivor and president of the National Breast Cancer Coalition. Paula S. Wallace, educator, artist, and founder of Savannah College of Art and Design. and Evan Wolfson, a lawyer and leader of the marriage equality movement.