Memorials held virtually and in-person to honor the life of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Saturday night, people gathered outside the courthouse in Fort Myers to remember the life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and celebrate her 27 years as a Supreme Court Justice.

“She needs to be honored and respected for her work,” said Pamela May who came out to the courthouse to honor Ginsburg.

“It’s about a tribute to an amazing, intelligent person with so much integrity. It was unbelievable. She fought for everybody,” said Sharon Kay, another participant.

People also congregated in online zoom calls to honor RBG.

“Her passing struck me more than anything lately. I mean, somehow she represents so much,” said Tamara Paquette, host of ‘Zoom for RBG.’ “Justice Ginsberg not only changed my life but the lives of all women and our children to come.”

All across the country, people are remembering and mourning Justice Ginsburg. She died Friday of pancreatic cancer. She was 87 years old.

It’s her life and impact that people in Southwest Florida chose to celebrate and commemorate. Some people just wanted to thank her.

“She was an amazing woman. She spent her entire life fighting for equal rights for everybody,” Kay said.

Kay and others hope they can affect as much change as RBG in their lives. During these memorials, Justice Ginsburg was referred to as a feminist icon, a true representation of determination, female empowerment and strength.

“She’s such a model,” said Reverend Rusty May. “Ruth Bader Ginsburg stood up for the rights of the disenfranchised, for the LGBTQ community for voter rights and so many other critical issues where she was on the right side, not just of the law, but on the right side of history.”

Both the Zoom and in-person vigils made their focus Ruth Bader Ginsburg and what she’s done for America, not the empty seat on the bench.

“What an awesome, awesome person she was. And so fortunate that we had her in our lifetimes,” May said.

Not only did they come together to celebrate her life, but they hope her legacy will live on.

“Although she has passed, she has left behind a legacy and there are steps that we all can take to continue to do the work that she left for us,” Paquette said.

The people at the courthouse Saturday evening told WINK News Reporter Andryanna Sheppard that they are saddened by talk of filling RBG’s seat not a full 24 hours after she passed away.

They just hope everyone is able to take a step back and recognize and appreciate the life and worth of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her contributions.