Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams launched today an online petition to rename the Brooklyn Municipal Building in honor of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who celebrated her 25th anniversary on the Supreme Court last month.
The campaign comes a week after Adams sent a written request to Mayor Bill de Blasio, that was co-signed by a coalition of elected officials, community leaders, legal scholars and women's rights activists.
"In an era where popular culture puts performing artists and sports stars on a public pedestal, Ruth Bader Ginsburg has risen to incredible levels of iconic admiration and love," wrote Adams. "Society often waits to recognize a lifetime of accomplishment until after that lifetime ends. In this case, we can honor the life and service of Ruth Bader Ginsburg during what we hope will be a long and active remaining life."
"The Notorious RBG," as she has been lovingly dubbed, was born Joan Ruth Bader on March 15, 1933, in Brooklyn, the second daughter of Celia and Nathan Bader. She grew up in Flatbush, attending the East Midwood Jewish Center and studying in NYC public schools until she graduated from James Madison High School. She obtained a bachelor's degree from Cornell University and finished first in her class at Columbia Law School.
Justice Ginsburg began her legal career as a leading advocate for women's rights, co-founding the Women's Rights Law Reporter in 1970, as well as the Women's Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in 1972. As director of the ACLU's Women's Rights Project, she argued a number of gender discrimination cases before the Supreme Court.
In August 1993, Justice Ginsburg became the second-ever woman to serve on the nation's highest court, and the first of Jewish heritage.
