Ruth Bader Ginsburg was considered to be a strong advocate for women and the LGBTQ community. But her recent years have shown a heightened demand for resilience, passion, and endurance. Even as Ginsburg had a resurgence of pancreatic cancer, she understood Donald Trump was too much of a threat to step down from her lifetime appointed seat. Ruth Ginsburg’s pliancy was unmatched as she underwent surgery for early-stage Lung cancer in 2019 but assured her supporters a sure recovery. Ruth wanted to make it clear to the Trump administration that she intended to stay. During a function in Washington, she even stated that she had “about at least five more years” left on the court. Tragically, it was not to be as Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away today at 87. Her allegiance to the American people was not overlooked; even in her final days, she stated, “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.”
Written By Nisie G Jimenez
March 15, 1933, Brooklyn, New York, NY Died: September 18, 2020, Washington, D.C.
Nathan and Celia Bader welcomed their daughter Ruth Joan Bader into the world on March 15, 1933. Ruth would grow up in a working-class neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. Her mother and father were hard workers but always stressed the importance of Education. Celia Bader even worked at a garment factory to help pay for her own brother’s college tuition; her young daughter took note. Young Ginsburg worked hard in school and was determined to become a lawyer. She eventually made it to Harvard, where she was one of eight other females in her class of more than 500. While the adversity Ruth faced as a woman in a predominantly male-dominated field was sometimes fervent, she studied hard. Eventually, she became the first female member of the prestigious Harvard Law Review.
After graduating in 1959, she became a clerk for a U.S. district judge for over two years then became a professor, eventually landing at Columbia, where she became the school’s first female tenured professor. Ginsburg also knew women deserved more of an equal voice. While teaching at Columbia, she served as the director of the Women’s Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union. After arguing six landmark cases on gender equality before the U.S. Supreme Court, Ruth became well known as an advocate for Women. Finally, in 1993 President Bill Clinton appointed Ruth Ginsburg as a Supreme Court judge and was confirmed by the Senate by a 96–3 vote.
During Ginsburgs time as Supreme Court Judge, she continued to stay true to her values by supporting legislation that was considered progressive. In 2015 she was part of a majority ruling in King v. Burwell, further securing the Affordable Care act. And the same year, she voted to make same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg never gave up on America and showed us what true devotion was as she used her last days to protect her fellow citizens. She will be remembered as a true Patriot. Now more than ever, we can only show her the same grace by voting and encouraging others to do the same.