Supporters of the Free the Nipple movement participated in a peaceful protest in downtown Springfield Missouri this week. Meeting at Park Central Square on Women’s Equality Day 30-40 local citizens met to share a message with their community.

After introductions men and women removed their shirts. Some participants added paint and tape.

Several speakers volunteered to share their personal experiences and those who listened closely would have begun to understand a point that most may miss. This was a protest that included toplessness, it was not a protest exclusively or even primarily about toplessness. The activity of baring skin was speech, speech with a particular point, that was very much motivated by life experiences.



The speakers shared about the impact of sexism and domestic violence. They disclosed painful personal experiences and described progress toward recovery. They shared about a society that far too often distrusts and disrespects women’s autonomy. Yes, it was about a city code with gendered differential treatment. For the participants it was also about the larger cultural factors that have led to it, the same forces that withheld suffrage rights, pondered blame for rape victims and kept the secret of domestic violence. Those issues were all once codified in statute and case law. In other words, what the casual observer may view as a trivial matter of toplessness that only radicals care about, the protestors understand and connect with the broader struggle for women’s rights.



Springfield police officers followed the protestors as they moved through town. They did not interact or interfere this year but their presence was known.



Following the speeches the participants marched down sidewalks where they protested at the steps of city hall and the major local newspaper. They chanted “Her body, her choice.” “Not the church, not the state, women must decide their fate.” “What do we want, equal rights, when do we want it, now.”





It has taken courage and passion to challenge gender roles and expectations for women throughout history. At every step of the way entire segments of society once viewed that courage as radical. But what they meant as a criticism, history has judged favorably.

Judge Jacqueline Nguyen, US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Nominated By President Obama, September 22, 2011
46 years old

This afternoon, the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of federal Judge Jacqueline Nguyen to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Jacqueline Nguyen came to America with her family after the fall of Saigon. They lived for a time in a tent city at Camp Pendleton.

Nguyen worked with her parents cleaning a dental office and helping out in their North Hollywood donut shop. During a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Nguyen said her life experience informed her judicial temperament, telling the committee the experience gave her "an appropriate sense of humility" when she reviews the facts of each case.

"I have an understanding and appreciation of how intimidating the court system can be," she said.
http://www.scpr.org/news/2012/05/07/32326/us-senate-vote-today-nomination-vietnamese-america/

Roll call vote

YEAs 91
NAYs 3 (Lee R-UT, Toomey R-PA, Vitter R-LA)
Not Voting 6
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=2&vote=00088

(Photo credit: Guthrie & Thomas, PLLC)
Stephanie Dawn Thacker, Partner, Guthrie & Thomas PLLC.
Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
46 Years old (Young enough to be a SCOTUS candidate)

Participated in the first prosecution in the country under the Violence Against Women Act

Awarded the US Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award

She would be Obama's 5th appointee on the 4th Circuit

Because some conservative activists attempt to relabel the Separation of Church and State as the government stopping religious people from being in the "public square," I thought it fitting for the 300th time in my life to remind those I can, since the media continues to fail to do so, that what courts have prevented has nothing to do with blocking citizen's access to the public square.

"State officials may not compose an official state prayer and require that it be recited in the public schools ..." Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962).

Notice the court did not say people can not compose or recite prayer, it says the State may not. Why is that so difficulty to understand? Or does that repetition of this lie have nothing to do with understanding. Do those that repeat it know that it is false and find it fitting to lie to the American people over and over again? Further why is the media so inept at confronting this lie?

Judge Morgan Christen, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
49 Years Old

US Senate confirms judicial nominee
(12-15) 14:01 PST Anchorage, Alaska (AP) --
The U.S. Senate has confirmed an Alaska Supreme Court justice to fill a vacancy on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Senators voted 95-3 Thursday to confirm the nomination of Morgan Christen, who becomes the first Alaska woman to serve on the 9th Circuit.

U.S. Democratic Sen. Mark Begich of Alaska recommended Christen to President Obama for the opening created by the retirement last year of Judge Andrew Kleinfeld of Fairbanks.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/12/15/state/n140136S79.DTL#ixzz1geVbYiMg


U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 112th Congress - 1st Session...
Question: On the Nomination (Confirmation Morgan Christen, of Alaska, to be U.S. Circuit Judge )
Vote Number: 231 Vote Date: December 15, 2011, 04:32 PM
Required For Majority: 1/2 Vote Result: Nomination Confirmed...
Vote Counts:

YEAs 95
NAYs 3 (DeMint, Paul, Vitter)
Not Voting 2
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=1&vote=00231#position

Adalberto José Jordán, Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
Nominated by President Barack Obama on August 2nd, 2011
Former Judge, U. S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
Nominated by William J. Clinton on March 15, 1999
Adjunct professor, University of Miami School of Law
First Cuban-born judge to sit on the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
50 Years Old

After months of Republican obstruction the votes were as follows:
On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed: 85-11
On the Cloture Motion: 89-5
On the Nomination: 94-5

NAYs ---5
Blunt (R-MO)
DeMint (R-SC)
Lee (R-UT)
Toomey (R-PA)
Vitter (R-LA)

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/vote_menu_112_2.htm