This is why I am feeling so defeated. I promised my friend I wouldn't stop fighting until #M4ALL was a reality.
Robin was a very dear friend of mine. I met her at one of my first protests and her eyes lit up when she noticed my "BERNIE: because fuck this shit" button. 1/12
Robin was a very dear friend of mine. I met her at one of my first protests and her eyes lit up when she noticed my "BERNIE: because fuck this shit" button. 1/12
She was stuck with me. Robin served as the Delaware County Iowa Dem Chair and was very politically active in Iowa. She was a 2016 Bernie state delegate. We attended many rallies, protests and events together and she was always just so thoughtful, composed and passionate. 2/12
She was in a viral video a few years ago when she confronted Sen. Grassley for voting to repeal pre-existing conditions protections. She then appeared on Lawrence O'Donnell to speak about her confrontation and activism. MY GIRL!! She was my activism mentor. 3/12
As a county Dem Chair, she was very quiet about voicing support for any candidate but met with most over last summer.
Towards the end of last summer she had discomfort in her neck and was soon after diagnosed with terminal thyroid cancer. 4/12
blogforiowa.com/2019/11/05/bel…
Towards the end of last summer she had discomfort in her neck and was soon after diagnosed with terminal thyroid cancer. 4/12
blogforiowa.com/2019/11/05/bel…
Our Robin, who had such a powerful, passionate, outspoken voice no longer had the ability to speak. She reached out to her friends and asked if anyone had a way to get in touch with any of the candidates because she wanted to tell her story. 5/12
Even as cancer was ravaging her body, she wanted to continue to fight for Medicare-for-all. I was able to contact a state Director of Bernie's campaign and he facilitated hooking up Robin with Bernie and Ro Khanna. It meant the world to her. 6/12
A week later at a fundraiser for her and her family to help cover their astronomical medical expenses, I saw Robin and was able to share a few moments with her. She scribbled on a piece of paper that she finally decided who she was going to vote for. "Bernie won me over". 7/12
Less than a week later, Robin lost her battle. She never got to cast that vote. She never got to meet her first grandchild who was born a few short weeks later.
Before her funeral, my friend from the campaign hand delivered a note from Bernie Sanders to Robin's family. 8/12
Before her funeral, my friend from the campaign hand delivered a note from Bernie Sanders to Robin's family. 8/12
He didn't write it for any other reason than to be a comfort to her family and let them know what a special woman she was. He wanted them to know he was going to keep fighting for her. He was going to be her voice.
That has been my mission too. To be Robin's voice. 9/12
That has been my mission too. To be Robin's voice. 9/12
She is the motor that drives me. Everytime I waiver about getting out and knocking doors or attending a rally, I think about Robin and suck it up and go. I do it for her. I carried her picture in my pocket as I cast my vote for Bernie in the Iowa caucus too. I'm her voice. 10/12
We all are. All of us who feel defeated because what felt like a dream that was right within reach a few weeks ago, feels a little further away. We have got to keep fighting. We have to keep fighting for all of us, our babies, future generations and for those with no voice. 11/12
WE are Bernie's legacy. He's shown us that you never give up. Even if you're shouting to an empty Senate chamber, you never give up! Bernie hasn't and neither can we. I'm going to keep fighting for all of you, for my babies and for Robin. Please join me! 12/12
#MedicareForAll
#MedicareForAll
This is her final video. Please help be Robin's voice and the voice for the millions of other victims of the broken health care industry. We are so close.
#Medicare-for-all
#NeverGiveUp
#NotMeUs
#BernieWarriors
#Medicare-for-all
#NeverGiveUp
#NotMeUs
#BernieWarriors
