Elizabeth Warren, 2019
American politician serving as the senior
United States Senator from Massachusetts
48 x 60 inches
Oil on canvas
“I don’t understand why anybody goes to all the trouble of running for president of the United States just to talk about what we really can’t do and shouldn’t fight for.”
—Elizabeth Warren
On February 7, 2017, the U.S. Senate debated confirmation of Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama to become Attorney General. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts spoke against confirmation, criticizing his record on civil rights. During the proceedings, while Senator Warren attempted to read from a letter by Coretta Scott King, she was ultimately silenced via an appeal by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Following this ruling to silence Senator Warren, McConnell said on the senate floor, “Senator Warren was giving a lengthy speech. She had appeared to violate the rule. She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.” Immediately this statement went viral on social media, giving far more attention to Elizabeth Warren than McConnell had anticipated with Nevertheless She Persisted becoming a rallying cry for women everywhere. It was certainly the inspiration for the title of this series of paintings.