Monique Harris Takes Her Advocacy Work to Washington, D.C.

Ability Now’s participant, Monique Harris, was a guest speaker at the We Won’t Wait 2016 campaign in Washington D.C. on September 19 at the Freedom Plaza. The vigil was part of a national summit hosted by the We Won’t Wait 2016 campaign, a national, multiracial movement focused on creating an economic agenda that reflects the complex reality of women’s lives, including elder care, child care, paid sick days, equal pay, immigration, criminal justice reform, gun violence, reproductive justice, and access to health care.

The vigil attracted more than 750 people and speakers included Maryland Congresswoman Donna Edwards, Rashad Robinson from Color of Change and Gilda Blanco of National Domestic Workers Alliance. Monique spoke after the mothers of Tamir Rice and Jordan Davis, and Sandra Bland’s sister. Monique expressed her fear and anguish as the mother of a black man living with learning disabilities and his high vulnerability to violence due to these two factors.

Monique was the sponsored guest of Hand in Hand, a domestic employers’ network, whom she has advocated for and spoken on behalf of multiple times in Sacramento. Her advocacy for herself and others continues to shine a spotlight on the changes that need to be done in our community