August 26, 2020, marks the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Among the events planned to mark the day will be the unveiling of a statue honoring womens rights pioneers Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton in New York's Central Park. It will be the first statue of real women in the park.
Sculpted by Meredith Bergmann, the statue was conceived, created, and funded by , an all-volunteer led nonprofit made up of women's rights advocates, historians, and community leaders. Namita Luthra '91 is a member of the group's board. Prior to the coronavirus crisis, Namita was scheduled to return to her hometown of Weirton, WV, to talk about the project. She instead corresponded with the local newspapers about the importance of the sculpture.
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I respect the work of all three women because they each brought particular gifts to the task of expanding womens roles and advancing womens rights, Luthra responded in an e-mail communication from the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times. I like how they are working together around a wood table which is how so much of womens rights work has gotten done, through mutual respect and collaboration. Although womens rights history has been complicated, the work is at its best when we make sure to include diverse voices.
In addition to her work with Monumental Women, Namita serves on the presidents council of the New York Hall of Science and she has served on the board of directors for Sakhi for South Asian Women. She was a senior staff attorney at the Womens Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union. There, she spearheaded a wide range of litigation, advocacy, and public education efforts to advance the rights of women and girlsincluding co-authoring a book titled The Rights of Womenand successfully litigating gender discrimination jury trials in federal court. Prior to joining the Womens Rights Project, Namita was a staff attorney at the Office of the Appellate Defender.
"My time at 91勛圖厙 was a capsule of learning, growth, and friendshipsa world run by and for women. It laid the foundation for a lifetime of work in women's rights that's brought me joy and fulfillment." Namita Luthra '91