Politics & Elections

Dozens gather at the State House to mourn the passing of Justice Ginsberg

“In Judaism, when somebody dies we say, ‘May their memory be a blessing to us,‘” said Rhode Island State Senator Gayle Goldin. “And I thought about that… but I hope too that her memory is also a revolution for us. That we take this moment and we grab it for all it is, and realize what’s at stake.“ “This is

Rhode Island News: Dozens gather at the State House to mourn the passing of Justice Ginsberg

September 19, 2020, 11:24 am

By Steve Ahlquist

In Judaism, when somebody dies we say, ‘May their memory be a blessing to us,‘” said Rhode Island State Senator Gayle Goldin. “And I thought about that… but I hope too that her memory is also a revolution for us. That we take this moment and we grab it for all it is, and realize what’s at stake.


“This is exactly where I wanted to be and I am so grateful to all of you for coming out,” said Rhode Island State Representative Teresa Tanzi (Democrat, District 34, Narragansett, South Kingstown) to the crowd of over 40 people assembled on the south steps of the State House in Providence late Friday night. “Because we are not alone in this. We are not alone in our fear for our country. We’re not alone in our fear for our children. We’re not alone in our fear for the future. But together, I feel that we can unite and turn that fear back to the principle of hope.”

The crowd had gathered in response to the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who died of pancreatic cancer, leaving a vacancy on the Supreme Court as the United States heads to the polls in November to decide on the next President of the United States.

The battle to prevent the Republican controlled Senate from confirming a conservative Trump appointee to the Supreme Court to replace Ginsberg will be politically brutal, in this highly volatile political climate.

“We have so much to fight for,” said Tanzi, addressing the crowd.

A small, temporary shrine of candles was assembled, and at the center was a small sign that said, simply, “Keep Abortion Legal.”

There were many other elected state leaders at the gathering, including, but not limited to Senator Gayle Goldin (Democrat, District 3, Providence), Senator Bridget Valverde (District 35, North Kingstown, Narragansett), Senator James Sheehan (Democrat, District 36, Narragansett), Representative Edith Ajello (Democrat, District 1, Providence), Representative Marcia Ranglin-Vassell (Democrat, District 5, Providence), Representative Liana Cassar (Democrat, District 66, Barrington, East Providence) and State Treasurer Seth Magaziner.

“In Judaism, when somebody dies we say, ‘May their memory be a blessing to us,'” said Senator Goldin. “And I thought about that… but I hope too that her memory is also a revolution for us. That we take this moment and we grab it for all it is, and realize what’s at stake.”