Dear Senators,

We are the parents of boys. Our sons are teenagers, tweens, little boys and young adults who are forming their identities -- their ways of being in the world --  right now. Everyday they look to 17-year-old boys, to college students, to grown men, to our national leaders for examples of who and how to be in the world; examples of right and wrong; examples of how to live in relation to other people. In raising our sons we know actions speak louder than words. Our children are watching and they are listening. We need to choose leaders who reflect the values and behaviors we want for our children.

As parents, we watched in horror as the Senate has continued to consider the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh for Supreme Court Justice this week. We are horrified because we believe Dr. Ford,  Ms. Ramirez and now Ms. Swetnick. We remember, and still believe, Professor Anita Hill.

We love our sons and work hard to help them navigate the contradictions of growing up. We want to help them be the best possible people they can be in the world. We are raising them to be people who are worthy of having responsibility for others in the future; people who know how to be both strong and kind, people who know what healthy sexuality looks like. We want them to know that fun for them should never, ever come at the expense of another’s’ humanity. We want them to know they are equal to – and not better than – all other people. And, when they do make a mistake, when they cause harm – we want them to have the strength and the courage to face it, and be accountable, and to repair their sacred relationships.

We want them to know – and to see – that consent is not the absence of a no. It’s an enthusiastic yes.

Ms. Ramirez, Dr. Ford and Ms. Swetnick have come forward at great risk to themselves, for the good of the whole and for our children. We are grateful for their courage. We owe it to our children to take the allegations against Mr. Kavanaugh very, very seriously. We owe it to them to listen, to have the real conversations, and to never ever brush aside allegations of attempted rape, sexual assault and harassment as “rough play” or “boys will be boys.” Now it’s time for us to be courageous leaders for our children. We owe it to them. They deserve it.

Sincerely,

Trina Greene Brown, Los Angeles, CA, Parent of 9-year-old son

Kristen Zimmerman, Oakland, CA, Parent of 13-year-old son

Aimee Thompson, MN, Parent of 7-year-old son

Toni Brinega, Nampa, ID, Parent of 19-year-old son

Mercedes Muñoz, Boise, ID, Parent of 13-year old son

Nan Stoops, Seattle, WA, Parent of 22-year-old son

Ariel Jacobson, Albany, NY, Parent of 4-year-old son

Nicole Matthews, Minneapolis, MN, Parent of 13-year-old son

Danielle Slaughter, Decatur, GA, Parent of 6 and 1 year old boys

Vanessa Nisperos, Brooklyn, NY, Mom of twin 6 year old boys

Salamishah Tillet, Newark, NJ, Mom of son, age 2

Scott Nine, Portland, OR 19-year-old son

Joann Lo, Glendale, CA, Parent of Parent of 10-year-old son

Cintya Molina,, Oakland, CA, Parent of 14-year-old son

Saun-Toy Trotter, Oakland, CA, Parent of 10-year-old son

Mari Rose Turac, Oakland, CA, Parent of 14 and 20-year-old sons

Aparna Shah, Oakland, CA, Parent of 10-year-old son

Lisa Nakamura, Oakland, CA, Parent of 11-year old son

Mia Birdsong, Oakland, CA, Parent of 8-year-old son

Sihle Dinani, Oakland, CA, Parent of 13-year-old son

Skeeter Barker, Parent of 10-year-old son

Rachel Burrows, Oakland, CA, Mom of 2-year-old son

Abby Reyes, Orange County, CA, Mom of 9 and 11 year old boys

Carmen Aceves-Iniguez, Oakland, CA, mom to 3 year old and 6 year old sons

Luis Sanchez, CA, parent of 8 year old son

Dana Ginn Paredes, Oakland, CA, Mi hijo is 8 years old

Abby Reyes, Orange County, CA, Mom of 9 and 11 year old boys

Jodeen Olguín-Tayler, Brooklyn, NY son- age 14 months

Shelley Means, Vashon, WA 98070, Mother of 15 year old boy

Malia Collins, Boise, Idaho, Mom of 15-year-old son

 

Lesli LeGras Morris, Los Angeles, CA, Mom of 4 year old and 8 month old sons

Manuel Roman, parent of 9-year-old son