1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I am completely astounded by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s public promotion of a video claiming women should not vote!! Even more astonished that there hasn’t been a firestorm of protest about it! This is not fringe rhetoric. It is an extremist vision being amplified from the highest levels of our military leadership. It worries me that this might be the first step in laying the groundwork to strip women of our voices, our votes, and ultimately our freedom to live as equal citizens. Particularly as women yourselves, I urge you to speak out publicly, demand accountability, and take every possible action to ensure such misogynistic, anti-democratic beliefs have no foothold in our government. Silence is not an option. Thank you for your courage and commitment to protecting the rights of every woman in this country.