Respect My No is an assertion of one's humanity. When Recy Taylor refused to remain silent after being brutally raped by six white men, when Abraham Lincoln refused to allow slavery to continue, or when Margaret Chase Smith refused to sink into the shadows of the male dominated U.S. Congress, they insisted that their humanity be recognized, acknowledged, and respected. See me. Hear me. Respect me. Respect My No.

For centuries, societies have dismissed and denied the humanity of particular groups and people because of their gender, race, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation. This dismissal has manifested in the simplest of forms, such as failing to recognize a women’s right to speak for herself, demeaning a person for who they chose to love, or denying a person of color the dignity of his or her objection.

Even our legal system has followed suit in failing to protect an individual’s "no". The system chooses to deliberate whether a victim’s "no" was adequate, asking: how many times did they say no? Did they say no? Did they resist at all? Why didn’t they fight back? Why didn’t they leave or call for help? Instead of demanding a change, society has chosen to ingrain this mentality in the social norms of our relationships by minimizing or excusing behavior that is in direct contrast to the “no” that was spoken.

Respect My No is clear and steadfast; it demands attention and requires the listener to consider the ramifications of their actions, as well as to recognize that each human being is worthy of respect and dignity. See me. Hear me. Respect me. Respect My No.