Harassment of Elected Officials Must Stop
What we allow is what will continue. Are we willing to put an end to escalating harassment and intimidation of our elected officials, or will we sit on the sidelines?
Political violence is not a new phenomenon. Those seeking to serve in public office have always faced hostility. Now, as a record number of women and other underrepresented groups have made inroads into elected office, the reactions have become heightened and dangerous. The mix of the digital era, pandemic isolation and growing partisanship provides a powder keg ready to explode.
With the growing number of women in office, the violence towards them is also rising. Violence against women in politics takes many forms including death threats, rape threats, sexual harassment, misogyny, disparagement, and sexist and racist abuse. These tactics attempt to silence and to force compliance. They aim to undermine our democracy by preventing true representation.
From north to south and coast to inland, SLO County has seen numerous egregious acts against women candidates and elected officials. A razor blade in a tire, an intruder at a City Hall, a public commenter spewing misogynistic accusations, a letter to the editor containing a veiled death threat, a social-media poster slinging sexualized tropes. These are moments of abhorrent action, and they have lasting effects.
Every generation is responsible for strengthening our democracy with equity, respect and fairness. It is up to us to be the change we want to see. We can be passionate but respectful in our dissent. We can be courageous but non-violent in our disagreements. What we cannot do is accept that political violence comes with the territory. Instead, we must make this behavior unacceptable. When we do, we will be able to encourage true dialogue, welcome diverse ideas, make space for underrepresented people, and ultimately grow the number of participants in our democracy.
How can we make a difference? Demonstrate respectful public discourse. Be a constructive contributor in person and online. Call out abusive and inappropriate behavior. Support a candidate or elected official. Attend public comment, not just when you’re upset but also when you want to share a word of praise. And when your representatives share what is happening, make a public display of your solidarity. You might even consider joining politics yourself – apply for a board or commission, or run for office. Above all else, engage. Don’t let the absence of your voice be your complicity.
Women’s March SLO Organizers
Dawn Addis, Andrea Chmelik, Jen Ford, Terry Parry, Pat Harris, Rita Casaverde, Gail Bunting
CO-SIGNED BY:
Elected officials:
Salud Carbajal, U.S. Congressman (CA-24) John Laird, California State Senator (SD-17) Bruce Gibson, San Luis Obispo County Supervisor (District 2) Dawn Ortiz-Legg, San Luis Obispo County Supervisor (District 3) Jimmy Paulding, Arroyo Grande Mayor Pro Tem Lan George, Arroyo Grande City Council Member Kristen Barneich, Arroyo Grande City Council Member Keith Storton, Arroyo Grande City Council Member Susan Funk, Atascadero City Council Member Mariam Shah, Grover Beach Mayor Pro Tem Karen Bright, Grover Beach City Council Member John Headding, Morro Bay Mayor Dawn Addis, Morro Bay City Council Member Maria Garcia, Paso Robles City Council Member Marcia Guthrie, Pismo Beach City Council Member Heidi Harmon, San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica A. Stewart, San Luis Obispo Vice Mayor Andy Pease, San Luis Obispo City Council Member Jan Marx, San Luis Obispo City Council Member Christine Womack, Los Osos Community Service District President Cynthia Replogle, Oceano Community Service District Director Sandra Sarrouf, 3rd District Elected Representative, Los Osos Community Advisory Council
Organizations & Businesses:
Planned Parenthood Central Coast Action Fund
Indivisible: Rapid Response Team SLO
Allies for Immigration Justice, SLO County
R.A.C.E. Matters SLO County
League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County
Atascadero Democratic Club
Jane Lloyd and Marie-Christine Mahe, Stonewall Democratic Club of San Luis Obispo County
Community Members:
Laura Albers
Stephanie Allen
John Allen
Nick Andre
Ruth Ann Angus
Mark Arnold
Melinda Avila
Gina Axsom
Odile Ayral
Barbara Babka
Nancy Badrigian
Michael Baird
Jessica Baker
Kathleen Baker
Tina Ballantyne
Marisa Balmana
Jennifer Baltes
Susan Balthasar
Erica Flores Baltodano
Larry Barnes
Chrys Barnes
Cheryl Barton-Petrie
Meredith Bates
Kathryn Bay
Dawn Beattie
Susan Belany
Kathleen Benedict
Dayna Bennett
Ellen Beraud
Judy Berk
Diana Bertinuson
Susan Biesek
Audrey Bigelow
Mary Blackler
Samson Blackwell
C. Jordan Blaquera
Suzan Boatman
Ann Bollay
Vicki Bookless
Kayla Brachear
Quinn Brady
Valerie Breese
Wendy Brown
Quinn Brussel
Shawn Burn
Alicia Busa
Michelle Call
Katie Carrillo
Karen Carson
Lori Caudill
Cynthia Chaillie Marchant
Kevin Clark
Jeanie Class
Gerri Clemens
Donna Clipperton
June Cochran
Christina Coffman
Tom Comar
John Alan Connerley
Jody Cook
Daniel Cook
Sarah Coplen
Mary Lynn Crandall
Karen Croley
Gayle Cuddy
Jesse Cutburth
Rev Dr Donald J Dallmann
Diane Danfield
Robert Fuller Davis
Jenine Davison
Jane Davison
Victoria De La Rosa
Georganna Dean
Letri Deedon
Rita Delkeskamp
Nancy Dickenson
Cheryl Dove
Rebecca Drake
Susan Dressler
Sari Dworkin
Judy Ellis
Laura Emerson
Valerie Endres
Ronald Epping
Britt Fairchild
Janine Fallon
Marcianne Fast
Michelle Feldman
Travis Ford
Amy Freeman
Sheree Garcia
Pam Gates
Don GerBracht
Dreima Gingg
Chelly Glancy
Tara Gonzales
Gayle Goodman
Marilyn Gordon
Kimberly Gravell
Heather Gray
Jessica Griffiths
Robin Guittard
Jessica Guthrie Montes
Haila Hafley-Kluver
Ashley Hain
Marilyn Hamilton
Dona Hare Price
Robyn Harris
Ann Havlik
Barbara Hawkins
Margaret Heinrichs
Elizabeth Helgerson
Yvonne Helms
Stephen Heraldo
Douglas J. Heumann
Amy Hewes
Travis Higgins
Galadriel Bree Highhouse
Dorothy Hines
Kristin Horowitz
Lizabeth Horton
Heather Howell
Sandee Hunt-Burns
Chuck Intrieri
Scott Jenkins
Shelly Johnson
Rochelle Johnson
Arya Jones
Judy Jones
Kelsey Jones
Marti Jorgensen-Lindholm
Cameron Jung-Fagan
Evy Justesen
Ruth Kalin
Winifred Kang
Leslie Kasanoff
Candia Katich
Karl Kempton
Carol Kenyon
Clare Kennedy
Sharon Kimball
Angie King
Julie Kliegl
Kelly Knox
Laura Knutson
Brian Kragh
Catharine Krupp
Carol Lake
John Lamb
Jennifer Lane
Janice Langley
Meredith Larson
Randee LaSalle
Johnathan Lau
Denise Leader Stoeber
Laura Leary
Christina Lefevre Latner
Lucy Lo
Carolyn Long
Jude Long
Carol Lopes
Martha Lozano
Diane Ludin
Evan Manning
Jamie Maraviglia
Sandra Marshall
Don Maruska
Tess Matthews
Charles Matthews
Brenda May
Diane Mayfield
Carol McBirnie
Paula McCambridge
Laura McCarley
Sandi McClung
Nicole McDermott-Rivera
Marty McGrath
Athena Meisheid
Karen Merriam
Lynda Merrill
Jan Meslin
Vita Miller
Jenna Mitchell
Kate Montgomery
Kim Murry
Betsey Nash
Laurie Niblock
Robin Noble
DC O’Brien
Aaron Ochs
Eileen O’Grady
Thomas Ogren
Kathleen Oliver
Lori Olson
Laura Parker
Christine Parker-Kennedy
Marta Peluso
Sandra Pendell
Lee Perkins
Janice Peters
Marie Peters
Douglas Pillsbury
Jackie Pope
Barry Price
Susan Quinones
Vickie Rabourn
Gary & Gizella Raymond
Kathy Reid
Nancy Reid
Paul Reinhardt
Bill and Lana Richmond
Amena Roalman
Rosanna Robinson
Susan C. Robinson, MD
Vicki Rogers
Virginia Roof
Phyllis Rosenfeld
Andrea Rule
Nina Russo
Melanie Sachs
Tamarra Salazar
Janet Salem
Monica Schechter
Nancy Schonfeldt
Debora Schwartz
Michelle Shoresman
Glenn Silloway
Julie Smith
Christopher Smith
Cristine Smith
Dian SousaBarbara Spagnola
Leslie Spoon
Stephanie Stackhouse
Mary Stallard
Erma Stauffer
Gary and Vallerie Steenson
Jill Stegman
Susan Stenovec
JoAnne Stoddard
Cheryl Storton
Mary Strobridge
Suzanne Sullivan
Carol Swain
Vicki Tamoush
Sasha Taus
John Taylor
Caroljean Teuffel
Kathleen Thorne
Terry Throop
Mike Toppe
Dee Torres-Hill
Manon Tree
Charles Tribbey
Kathryn Tribbey
Joyce Tseng
Darlene Tunney Rosene
Carolina Van Stone
Charles Varni
Jane Viles
Kathryn Voice
Phil Wagner
Lorraine Waldau
Allie Walter
Danielle Wheeler
Gina Whitaker
Whitefeather
Kayla Wilburn
Constance Winstead
Sharon Wood
Kara Woodruff
William Worger
Rosemary Wrenn
Bonnie Young
Priscilla Young
Mary Young
Jill ZamEk