Bakersfield College’s Pre-Law Program and BC’s Women’s History and More (WHAM) paid tribute to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG) with a video that premiered on Oct. 29.
Dr. Sonya Christian, Bakersfield College president, was joined by Olivia Garcia, History Faculty and WHAM committee member, Judge Susan Gill, Judge Robert Tafoya, Pearl Urena, Bakersfield College educational advisor, and Cynthia Zimmer, Kern County District Attorney to share RBG’s story.
Christian discussed RBG’s early life involving the loss of her mother as a teen and raising a family while studying law. Though her integrity was often questioned or looked down upon, she graduated and began her journey fighting gender discrimination.
“I’ve recently come to understand that RBG never saw herself fighting for women’s rights, but instead fought for equal access to citizen’s rights. Ginsburg fought for federal law to be applied equally across genders,” Christian said. “I pray that I may be all that she would’ve been had she lived in an age when women could aspire and achieve, and daughters are cherished as much as sons.”
Many cases involving gender and race inequality were mentioned that RBG led to success long before her work on the Supreme Court Justice.
“RBG will be remembered for bringing women and gender equality to the forefront, something she began doing from day one. Way before her prestigious appointment to the US Supreme Court Justice,” Garcia said.
Loo spoke of the 2013 Shelby County vs Holder where two provisions of the Voting Rights Acts of 1995 were deemed unconstitutional. She mentioned how this was considered to be one of RBG’s most frustrating cases.
“Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissent in the 2013 Shelby County vs Holder case was said to be her most furious. It was not just foul, but it was red with injustice, which is rare,” Loo said.
Zimmer stated that though she did not agree with all her judicial policies, she is grateful for her respect and decency towards those around her along with her decades of public service.
“The positive impact of the life work of this remarkable woman will continue to reverberate for generations,” Tafoya said.