Wednesday, July 23, SEIU 1021 President Theresa Rutherford was honored as a “Voice of Change” by the San Francisco Women’s Political Committee (SFWPC) at their annual Summer in the City fundraising event.

The event was billed to ”recognize groundbreaking women that serve as an inspiration to us all, especially during the toughest of times.” Making the honor extra special, President Rutherford’s award was presented by SFWPC Secretary-Treasurer and SEIU 1021 SF Civic Center Chapter President Joy Zhan, who credited her as a “great mentor and role model for young union organizers like myself.”

“I’m here not because I’m special, but because I was grown by strong women who believe in themselves and who lifted me up,” said President Rutherford in her remarks. ”I’m here also because I’m lucky enough to represent workers who come to work with their hearts and their values and who believe in changing the world and making the world a better place no matter their station in life. Not based on class, money, but on integrity—having good values and believing all of us have a place in this world.

“I want to use this as a clarion call. We are in a very dangerous time, where women are being told, you’re nobody, you should go back and have babies and walk barefoot. Workers are being denigrated based on the color of their skin, where they come from. We have a responsibility to stand up. We have to lead and make the change. 

“We cannot afford to have misogyny. We cannot afford to have racism. We cannot afford to have genocide happening and not stand up, speak up. Every child dying of starvation  in Congo; every child currently suffering everywhere in the world; in Gaza, where starvation is being used as a weapon…every woman who is being raped and rape is being used as a weapon—it could be any of us here. Men, your responsibility is to realize the women around here are your peers. You stand up for them, you stand by them, and you fight like hell to make sure they’re OK.

“So I task all of us today, as we celebrate and honor one another, the biggest honor we can do is to demand a change, make it happen, and fight like hell to make sure that evil does not win. Let’s go out there and bring our democracy back.”

Congratulations, President Rutherford!