Fighting to End Child Marriage: Meet the February Granite Stater of the Month

Our February Granite Stater of the Month, Cassandra Levesque, needs no introduction for many people in New Hampshire. Cassandra, an 18-year-old from Barrington, has been at the forefront of an important fight: outlawing the practice of child marriage in New Hampshire and across the county.

Child brides face higher likelihood of domestic violence and divorce and a lower chance of professional success. Last year, when Cassandra discovered this, she set out to close the legal loopholes that allow children as young as 13 to wed in New Hampshire.

As she took up this cause, she heard stories of women in her community who had faced abuse because of their marriages as a minor. She also bravely shared the stories of her own grandmother and great-grandmother, both of whom were married as young teenagers and abused by their husbands.

While her initial effort to change the law in New Hampshire stalled in the House of Representatives, she has continued to speak out against and raise awareness about this harmful practice, and the push for legislative reform recently began anew.

This week, I had the opportunity to share Cassandra’s story on the Senate floor.

I am deeply grateful for Cassandra’s hard work and proud to recognize her as our Granite Stater of the Month for February.

If you know an extraordinary New Hampshire citizen who you think should be our next Granite Stater of the Month, click here to nominate them.