Earlier this week, the Rhode Democratic State Party released changes to their bylaws that would severely inhibit  the Rhode Island Democratic Party Women’s Caucus. Our official statement in regards to the proposed bylaws can be found here, but in summary the Caucus would not be allowed to speak, raise funds, organize or participate in democracy in any meaningful way.

We are the branch of the state’s Democratic Party specifically working to engage, recruit, train, and support women candidates. Our members fill the halls of the State House in support of legislation critical to the vitality of Rhode Island women and hundreds of our volunteers canvass neighborhoods in support of women candidates each election cycle. We have demonstrated our ability to mobilize and elect democratic women and their allies. Yet, the party leadership distances itself from us at every opportunity. It is as though our priorities, rooted in the values outlined in the Democratic platform, are somehow in conflict with the leaders of the State party.

We seek a set of bylaws that promotes Democratic ideals and helps grow and strengthen our party. We request that these proposed bylaws be voted down. We deserve better bylaws that serve us all and we hope to work with our fellow Democrats to create such bylaws. We are asking to be included in a process meant to define us. “Nothing about us, without us,” as the saying goes. 

Objecting to these proposed bylaw changes sends a clear message to members of our Caucus: the tent in which they claim is big enough for us all, should not, instead, exist for just the powerful, privileged few.

Sign our petition in support and Vote NO on the proposed RIDP bylaws at the November 18th RIDP State Committee meeting.