The three young women—Emma Axelrod, Elena Tsemberis and Sammi Siegel—will be honored Thursday during a debate-watching party in Montclair hosted by the Women’s Fund of New Jersey. On hand will be state Senator Nia H. Gill and Assemblywoman Mila Jasey, who will present the three high school juniors with legislative resolutions commending their civic activism.
Axelrod, Tsemberis and Siegel launched an online petition drive after realizing that a woman had not moderated a presidential debate since 1992. Their campaign resulted in more than 180,000 signatures—and heaps of publicity.
The Commission on Presidential Debates subsequently selected CNN’s Candy Crowley to moderate the October 16 presidential debate. Thursday night’s debate, which pits Vice President Joe Biden against Republican VP candidate Paul Ryan, also will be moderated by a woman, Martha Raddatz of ABC News.
The celebration of Axelrod, Tsemberis and Siegel’s achievement will take place from 8-10:30 pm at the Bobbi Brown Studio, 8 Lackawanna Plaza, Montclair. The event is free, but donations are welcome at the Women’s Fund website. Also expected to attend is Montclair mayor Robert Jackson.
Donations will benefit the Women’s Fund of New Jersey, a non-profit that uses the power of philanthropy to advance economic security and social justice for the women and girls throughout our state.