‘We are doing this for Ruth’

Energized Democrats hold rally in Valparaiso

Tricia Reid came to the Rock the Vote with Porter County Democrats rally Saturday at Central Park Plaza to meet likeminded people, something she noted is hard to do during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday pushed her to the event, which she almost skipped.

“It’s definitely changing my energy. I had some other stuff to do today and I debated whether to come but I told my husband I have to do this,” said Reid, who lives in Valparaiso and is a Hammond teacher. “I think it’s really going to motivate a lot of people and light a fire.”

Hundreds of Democrats filled the downtown Valparaiso park, wearing political T-shirts and gathering signs for Democrats up and down the ballot. The event featured gubernatorial candidate Dr. Woody Myers, who noted he is the first Black gubernatorial candidate in Indiana and the only physician in the race.

“I’m running because Indiana needs surgery,” he said, listing the economy, the management of the

pandemic, K-12 public education and the environment as things ailing the state.

But during the rally there was no denying the impact of Ginsburg’s death, which is already setting off political volleys about when the U.S. Senate should vote on her replacement, and a strong message to vote in the Nov. 3 election.

Susie Talevski, candidate for an at-large seat on the Porter County Council and a local attorney, stood on the stage at the park surrounded by other women who are candidates for county and state office and talked about the loss of “an American hero and an icon of jurisprudence.”

“She served this country with impeccable integrity and deep moral inspiration,” Talevski said before asking for a moment of silence honoring Ginsburg. “May she rest in peace and may her memory be eternal and a blessing to all Americans.”

Garrett Wolf, organizer of the rally, called Ginsburg “a champion of civil rights and equality for women.”

Despite the excitement in planning the rally, the impact of Ginsburg’s death from metastatic pancreatic cancer at age 87 couldn’t be ignored, he said, adding that her dying wish was that she not be replaced until a new president is installed.

“I cannot emphasize enough how crucial it is that we vote this president out of office,” Wolf said, referring to Republican President Donald Trump.

Wolf encouraged young people to vote, noting it’s not enough for his generation “to attend one or two events and put Black Lives Matter in your Instagram bio,” and added that democracy cannot handle another four years of Trump. “We are doing this for Ruth and we are doing this for American democracy.”

Bob DeRuntz, with the Porter County Democratic Party, also encouraged voting, volunteering and donating as the election draws near because “when we show up, we win.”

Before the rally, Aleisa Amos-Pony, a consultant who lives in Valparaiso, said that while she always votes for Democrats, she decided to get more involved this year because of the importance of the election.

The death of Ginsburg only heightened her involvement.

“I think it just intensifies it because to me, democracy and the way of life in this country are actually at risk,” she said.