Miami NOW

National Organization for Women

Donate Join NOW

  • About
  • Issues
    • Constitutional Equality
    • Economic Justice
    • Freedom from Violence
    • LGBTQ Rights
    • Racial Justice
    • Reproductive Rights
    • Scholars of FL NOW
  • Get Involved
    • Join
    • Florida Young NOW

August 8, 2017 by NOW National

Urgent Message to Democratic Leaders: You Can’t Have Economic Justice Without Reproductive Justice

Statement of NOW President Toni Van Pelt

The Democratic party, determined to win back the majority in the House of Representatives at any cost, is throwing its support behind anti-choice candidates. That’s a huge mistake. Reproductive justice is at the heart of women’s health, welfare, safety, and economic security.

This week Rep. Ben Ray Luján, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said in an interview that, in order to pick up 24 more seats in the House, Democrats would fund candidates who oppose abortion rights.This marks a painful pivot from the 2016 party platform, which spelled out “that every woman should have access to quality reproductive health care services, including safe and legal abortion—regardless of where she lives, how much money she makes, or how she is insured.”

That platform was driven by smart policy, and smart politics–because it recognizes that progressive abortion policy is central to achieving economic justice. That’s why women, and all progressives, should decry this new posturing–which has Democratic leaders trying to appeal to a mythical group of moderates, by shrugging off reproductive rights as a fringe issue. The truth is this: they’ll never achieve any of their progressive goals, economic or otherwise, if abortion rights get pushed out of the picture.

Most important of all: Democrats can’t risk women’s lives to play this political game. This is even more urgent for marginalized individuals. Women of color, young people, and LGBTQIA+ individuals are hit hardest when abortion access is gutted–and that would almost certainly be the case if the Democrats throw their support behind anti-choice candidates.

I’m calling on grassroots activists across the country to march into their Congressional Democratic offices and make their voices heard, and to to work at the local Democratic party level–as individuals, or with their NOW chapters. NOW has been a proud fighter for abortion rights and reproductive justice for over 50 years. The Democratic party cannot and should not take us for granted. Party leaders must think again, and get it right this time.

Contact

M.E. Ficarra , press@now.org , 951-547-1241

About NOW National

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Upcoming Events

There are no upcoming events at this time.

Get Miami NOW Updates

Sign up to stay informed on the latest news, events and feminist issues! Subscribe

Follow Us on Twitter

MiamiNOWFollow

MiamiNOW
Retweet on TwitterMiamiNOW Retweeted
NationalNOWNational NOW@NationalNOW·
24 May

Day 7 of #SistersinSuffrage, it's Meri Te Tai Mangakahia. This suffragist inspired future generations of Māori women. Thanks to her, Maori women won the right to vote in 1897. To learn more about this suffragist and many others like her, visit http://now.org/100.

2
Reply on Twitter 1264574122979401730Retweet on Twitter 126457412297940173046Like on Twitter 1264574122979401730116Twitter 1264574122979401730
Retweet on TwitterMiamiNOW Retweeted
NationalNOWNational NOW@NationalNOW·
23 May

Day 6 of #SistersinSuffrage, we see Mabel Ping Hua-Lee, who led on horseback a suffragist parade New York City in 1912. her efforts paved the way for AAPI voters to stand for their rights. To learn more about this suffragist and many others like her, visit http://now.org/100

2
Reply on Twitter 1264209470306967552Retweet on Twitter 126420947030696755221Like on Twitter 126420947030696755226Twitter 1264209470306967552
Retweet on TwitterMiamiNOW Retweeted
NationalNOWNational NOW@NationalNOW·
22 May

Day 5 of #SistersinSuffrage, we celebrate ambassador Vilma Socorro Martinez. This suffragist helped secure the Voting Rights Act to include Mexican Americans to be protected. To learn more about this suffragist and many others like her, visit http://now.org/100.

2
Reply on Twitter 1263877286899511304Retweet on Twitter 126387728689951130417Like on Twitter 126387728689951130416Twitter 1263877286899511304
Retweet on TwitterMiamiNOW Retweeted
NationalNOWNational NOW@NationalNOW·
21 May

Day 4 of #SistersinSuffrage and a first generation suffragist, here's Harriet Forten Purvis. This powerful woman laid the groundwork for the first National Women's Right Convention. To learn more about this suffragist and many others like her, visit http://now.org/100.

Reply on Twitter 1263515397082365953Retweet on Twitter 126351539708236595314Like on Twitter 126351539708236595313Twitter 1263515397082365953
Retweet on TwitterMiamiNOW Retweeted
NationalNOWNational NOW@NationalNOW·
20 May

Today's #SistersinSuffrage is an educator and reformer who fought for the narratives of black women to be heard and founder of the Tuskegee Women's Club, Margaret Murray Washington! To learn more about her and many other suffragists like her, visit http://now.org/100.

2
Reply on Twitter 1263127192608935937Retweet on Twitter 126312719260893593718Like on Twitter 126312719260893593721Twitter 1263127192608935937
Load More...

Like Us On Facebook

Like Us On Facebook

Miami NOW

Miami NOW’s purpose is to take action through intersectional grassroots activism to promote feminist ideals, lead societal change, eliminate discrimination, and achieve and protect the equal rights of all women and girls.

Learn more about us.

Contact

Mailing Address
Miami NOW
PO Box 140341
Coral Gables, FL  33114

E-Mail
president@miaminow.org

Social

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Handcrafted with by Mapped Digital. NOW Chapter Websites Reinvented.