On Friday, we lost Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a powerful and brilliant American hero — and I am devastated.

From the beautiful collars draped over her robe to her fearless legal actions, RBG was truly one-of-a-kind. I am honored to live in a country shaped by her mind and by her legacy, and join people across the country in mourning such an important champion in the fight for equality.

When she was a young lawyer who proudly argued against discrimination on the basis of sex, she had no idea that she would inspire millions of young women and girls, and would one day serve as a Supreme Court Justice. She probably also had no idea that she would become a pop-culture icon known as The Notorious RBG, but she knew that what she was fighting for was important.

From protecting reproductive health care and immigrant rights to LGBTQ+ equality and racial justice, these important victories, won because of RBG, is proof that one person — one woman, can make a difference and change the course of history.

Just by nature of who she was and what she accomplished, she has shown women and girls everywhere that their voice is powerful, their mind is brilliant, and they can hold any office and sit at any table.

The United States of America is a better country because of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who leaves gigantic shoes to fill. So now, it’s up to us to continue her legacy. Through my sadness, I’m going to express gratitude to Ruth Bader Ginsburg by following in her footsteps and fighting hard for our freedoms.

“When I’m sometimes asked when will there be enough [women on the Supreme Court] and I say, ‘When there are nine,’ people are shocked. But there’d been nine men, and nobody’s ever raised a question about that.” — Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ruth, thank you from the bottom of my heart. We won’t stop honoring you with action and we won’t let you down.

Diana