By: Megan Shellman-Rickard,
Immediate Past National President

Participating in Peaceful Protests for Human Rights

As women of this organization, most of us recognize that women’s rights are human rights. We have fought hard to gain the rights that we do have as of 2025. As an organization, we celebrated President Biden’s declaration that the Equal Rights Amendment is now the law of the land on January 17, 2025. Those of us who joined the People’s March across the nation on January 18th walked proudly with the knowledge that a century of continued efforts has made a difference coupled with the anticipation of future legal challenges surrounding the 28th Amendment. 

As a member of the BPW Colorado Virtual Chapter, I didn’t have anyone to connect with locally and so I brought my daughter and my niece to join me on the momentous occasion of the People’s March 2025. My daughter and I marched together in Denver with BPW Colorado in 2020 and have continued to peacefully protest together in marches since. BPW Colorado participated in the Women’s March in 2017 and I have been marching with Women’s March, now known as the People’s March, every year since. The inspiration of those combined marches had me looking further into the idea of peaceful protest by power of the pocketbook. In addition, I think that we can all acknowledge that if we want change, supporting the companies that align with our ideals is an important place to start. Here are a few ideas for you to consider.

Instead of Amazon use EarthHero (https://earthhero.com) for home, kitchen, cleaning, beauty, kids, and pets. No, they don’t have everything you can imagine at the click of a mouse, but they do have so many options that are better for the Earth and humanity.

Buy books from an organization that supports local bookstores: https://bookshop.org. Are you an audiobook person? Use this business to purchase audiobooks: https://libro.fm/. Or simply go to the library, as they will need our support in the coming months and years.

Do you want to know where your consumer dollars are going? Poliview is a nonpartisan company that is “lifting the veil on the hidden politics of the companies we buy from and support.” Personally, I find Goods Unite Us, https://www.goodsuniteus.com/, more helpful because their data is more current, and they have an app that I installed on my phone.  “The company’s mission is to empower people to become political consumers and investors so that we can all collectively put an end to corporate political donations.”

Finally, and most importantly, buy locally or from people you know. Our own organization has a business directory that can be utilized to purchase from fellow BPW members. Most of us know shop owners in our communities and supporting them is an incredible way to ensure your values are reflected where you live.

Peaceful protest through marching, writing letters, making phone calls, and texting has incredible value. Please remember, our purchases also speak volumes and you can peacefully protest by NOT purchasing from companies that do not support your vision for human rights and working women while spending that money with people who do. 

Please continue to reach out to me personally or professionally as we continue our work to make NFBPWC a better organization, because together we are stronger.

Best Personal Wishes,

Megan Shellman-Rickard,

Immediate Past National President

immpastpresident@nfbpwc.org