All right. I thank you for the outreach that you provided to me, the president to bring everyone together to have this conversation and to join leaders in civil rights with leaders and reproductive rights and justice, to come together in the spirit of partnership collaboration, community building, coalition building and to build on a movement because certainly, we know that with the Supreme Court having made the decision that jobs to take a constitutional right, that had been recognized from the people of America from the women of America has created a healthcare crisis in America and has highlighted the fact that as we all know, we must be vigilant, and we must stand shoulder to shoulder to ensure that every voice is represented in a way that allows them equal access to all that they need to thrive and this moment, postdocs highlights the fact that we still have a lot of work to do. So we have come together understanding our common principles of purpose, based on the history of the work and the continuing work that each of you does every day. And so I want to thank you for that. And, and I will say that, when we think of the intersection between the civil rights movement and the reproductive health and justice movement, there is an extraordinary intersection of interest, priorities and spirit around what it needs to stand for all people and ensure that all people have equal access to what they need. I also want to mention that it is certainly we think not by accident, but probably by design that we are seeing from some of the same sources, the attacks on women's health rights, voting rights, LGBTQ rights. And so we stand here If so, acknowledgement for what have taken place in our country and the need that to bring people together, who seemingly sometimes have nothing in common, but one fact of everything. So with that, I thank you. Again, this is a moment that I do believe is about freedom is about justice. And it is about some of the core values that our country was founded on. That we must stand for. So with that, I think, turned out to me release, who is the head of Political Strategy and Outreach for the White House and for our administration tomorrow? As if you want to
welcome all, thank you so much for being here with us today. I want to start by thanking you for your fierce advocacy and partnerships. And many of the things that we've done within this administration, we know that this conversation is incredibly important. We look forward to hearing from you and working with you. I will say that we know that your time is valuable. So we'll just get started.
Thank you, Madam Vice President's honor to be here with you all. My name is Alexis McGill Johnson. I'm the president, CEO and Parenthood Federation of America. And I'm so grateful to you and the Biden administration for hosting us all today. I'm really grateful to be here. In this room with our partners in the civil rights community. When you stand with us, as you enter cabinet always have you understand that the fight for reproductive freedom is a fight for racial justice, and it's really a fight for our very democracy. Do you say it's been almost three months right since the Supreme Court took away our constitutional right to abortion and in that time, 16 states have already moved to ban abortion another one will go into effect this week. 10s of millions of women and trans men and non binary people cannot access the care they need in their communities. And those that are most affected are those who are already facing barriers to hear black Latinx and indigenous communities, rural communities, immigrant communities, those with low income, living, as he said in states with the highest maternal mortality rates, and the states with the most restrictive voting laws. Make no mistake these bans are working exactly as they were intended to to create a public health crisis. There's chaos. Every week, the abortion landscape changes. appointments have to be rescheduled. Patients have to secure new options, which often means traveling further delay time sensitive care or forgoing care or being forced into pregnancy. Planned Parenthood. We just did an analysis of the last year of SBA in Texas and the average distance our patients have traveled is 400 miles by car. And that's just out of Texas and the Texas zip code. We've seen an increase of 550% of patients haven't seen from just Texas. There's also confusion providers, hospitals, administrators, pharmacists have had to become lawyers in order to interpret what the band's need for their patients. Whether that's reading how to dispense medicine, or whether to send patients home when their pregnancies are no longer viable. To wait for sepsis to set him as they justify providing life saving treatment. Providers, independent providers or reproductive partners are worried about whether they will become non compliant retroactively about what to put on the website about how the law should be enforced. Now he covers $100,000 fines, felony convictions, loss of licensure, these are all the things that are obviously over there navigating the dots decision has demonstrated that abortion is everybody's business. Even corporate citizens, universities or schools are grappling with what to say to their workforce to their students to their parents, and how to show up to application. There isn't a single person or entity that can stay neutral in the fight because staying neutral normalizing the fact that codified inequality, what needs to be normalized to the views of 80% of Americans who believe in support we own portions to the roughly wanted to go up and then transmitted non binary folks who will have an abortion in your lifetime. What is normal is healthcare. And yet these bans exist because of stigmas. And they're kept there by surveillance powerful invisible weapons used to isolate intimidate patients, keep people fearful and justify laws that you would take away our freedom. I'm grateful for all the steps of binarize administration's taken to protect patients and providers in this public health crisis. Patients needs support and this administration has issued an executive order urging Medicaid to support travel looking at supplemental title 10 funds and making some abortion care available for your patients need accurate information. This administration responded by launching reproductive rights. Patients need privacy and this administration responded by issuing people guidance. And most importantly, patients need to know that they are not alone. That there are people in positions of power base. So vice president Perez, thank you for speaking with so many people about the abortion act of crisis this summer, over 150 legislators from 17 states the leaders in higher education, health care providers come on experts, attorneys general disability advocates and faith leaders that was what a whole of government response looks like. So believe me when I say the whole democracy response is underway. Americans, particularly women, young people, people of color, are registering to vote in droves. They see the intersections they see the restrictions on their freedom and they are determined to make that change. Planned Parenthood is committed to be with you, the administration and all of the incredible dedicated years in front of this table.
Melanie Campbell, President and CEO Lightfoot
Thank you. Thank you,
Brad vice president Harris. And of course, Ryan Harris ministration for your leadership and commitment to protecting the rights and freedoms of others. I want to take this moment to express my gratitude to the town's work being done every day. Civil rights and reproductive justice colleagues around this table and to those who are on the ground in the states on the frontlines, risking their safety and pouring so much into this work for those most vulnerable among us. I want you to be very clear we are living in an unprecedented challenge. Our people are experiencing a full partial assault on our rights, our freedoms and our democracy, including the historic attack on women's rights, control and violence. And a tsunami attacks on across the country. As black women who stand at the intersection with the full understanding that struggle for our right to vote is inextricably tied to our rights as history as Charlotte's Web less than a month and failed to protect. We have relied on before to deliver justice. Unfortunately, we are in a perilous chapter in our nation, where too many rock courts have been targeted to instrument partisan pain, all the aim of reserving power for selection. Today we find ourselves in this moment where the highest court in the land is stripping away our constitutional rights and freedoms therefore, we must seek protection from our lawmakers from leaders like even President Biden, in the hope administration, the Congress in order to compromise our rights to achieve justice, capitalism and opportunity as attacks on our reproductive rights continue and stave off the country. The health and safety limits are disproportionately black and other women of color are in jeopardy and are the most vulnerable. And we all know around this table to criminal acts. We're seeking reproductive health services, including safe access to abortion. Limited births are now living in this country where they have less rights and protections than their parents and grandparents. In closing, I personally know what it means to have a hard decision to happen for us. It was a hard decision of my wife. And I believe it's my responsibility to fight to ensure that women continue to have the constitutional rights above them that time is now in the future. And we are committed to fuse together to protect our rights by voting rights and save our democracy. Thank you, then Vice President for answering your call and creating the space here Congressman made recommendations in order in order for us to forge a path forward together. Thank you.
So on and Alicia are the legal professionals.
Good evening, everyone. So I want to first start by thanking vice president Harris for her efforts to ensure the voices
of my generation are heard and
I also want to thank President where we have a national police family and all the civil rights organizations who are part of your for this very important discussion. My name is Shalonda column shared as president of the national legal professional. I want you to know that young professionals across the country are fighting for reproductive rights. I'm here to ask for the administration's continued support. The reality is that that decision in dangerous women's lives and disproportionately impacts black women. The maternal mortality rate for black women is almost three times higher than it is for white women. What's that? It shows that with a total abortion being the increase the black woman dying from pregnancy related deaths increases by 33%. It is imperative that we protect women's rights regardless of personal beliefs or political affiliations because the lives of so many women across this country depend on we know this decision as part of the largest civil anti civil rights anti women's rights movement, that system our democracy as a whole. It is no surprise that states with abortion bans and strict limits in place in the same state suppressing the right to vote. While these efforts to remove fundamental rights to restrict freedoms are discouraging and disheartening. I want you to know that members of the Urban League movement have made up in our minds that we will not give up. We know our response needs to every facet of the Civil Rights and Democracy communities, particularly those who represent constituencies that traditionally are and continue to be marginalized in our society. We ask that the administration take every possible step to limit the harm of the doubt decision will have on black women and other marginalized groups. sexual and reproductive health providers who care for this population need to be supported. And this information needs to be shut down to ensure that people who need it know how to access critical care and every effort needs to be made to prevent health care from being weaponized against our communities. We also want to ensure that everyone is aware of how critical our upcoming elections are, and the influence that you mentioned officials have on our civil rights, our liberties and the confirmation of judges who respect civil rights. The administration should use all available resources to protect the election including up voters and election workers. We are committed to serving as boots on the ground holding Arlington officials accountable in educating and engaging our community on important civil rights and reproductive rights. I believe that we can continue supporting the administration, we can once again see progress towards freedom. Until then, in the worst development, we can believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes.
In Kimberly in this month for
executive director United reproductive and gender radically.
Thank you. I want to start by offering my deepest thanks to the distinguished leaders here today from civil rights, reproductive health and justice and of course Madam Vice President for their incredible leadership. You have been an inspiration to somebody including my own family. The sum of its discussion, as an organization is dedicated to young people's reproductive justice urge sees every day, the way that young people particularly young people who are black, indigenous, Latinos, AP API's are disproportionately harmed by the prices of abortion access. I'm also aware that the single mom that I've dedicated my life to protecting the human rights to decide when if and how we build our families, as my comrades have acknowledged we can fight for justice had formidable foes, and make no mistake We are in full scale attack on self determination, whether it be our ability to self determine our pregnancies, the ability of young trans people to live with dignity, go to school and get health care or the ability of communities to self determine in our democracy who will be there to make our laws. It is an attack on all President attack that we in this room are prepared to take out. Young black women and young black trans people are most harmed by the racist abortion bans that have now been passed in 17 states and counting facing the possibility of traveling hundreds of miles prepare for potential criminalization, for ending their own pregnancies with safe and effective abortion pills like nipple Cristo, and mines in hospital. We also know that young people are not sitting by at least injustices proceed. Young people have a majority of them today. Are black indigenous APIs are on the front lines of the fight for abortion justice, organizing, engaging with urge in equal voters in the south Midwest in California. Young people are working in independent abortion clinics, young people and young black women organized and one in Kansas to protect abortion on the ballot and secure it as a constitutional right. Young people are also supporting their own communities sharing information and supporting loved ones in self managing their own portions, which is often their first and sometimes their own interests. We are grateful for the collaboration in this administration, in particular your leadership, and we look forward to working together to continue to address this massive crisis. Losing row has created a national health crisis. But let's be clear rose never rose on a secure and a right to abortion for black women for young people. For low income people. And so we look forward not only to security will be lost, but to regaining what we never had working justice
Nancy Northrup, President CEO, Senator
Thank you, Madam Vice President, so good to be here with you. And the circling back to rights argument dogs case in the Supreme Court. So I thought I'd share a few reflections from the legal front which and legal fights which are still ongoing. You know, as you said the Supreme Court's decision was an unprecedented stripping of a personal liberty by never happened before in the United States. And I think it is wrongly decided is important for all of us to keep pointing out most American public's document more decision, but the things that are fundamentally wrong with it. Number one, the dangerous approach to constitutional interpretation. As you know, the court said basically, if you didn't have these rights 100 years ago, today, you can't have them in the Constitution today. Secondly, there was no consideration the majority opinion of the harms, which you're hearing about today. That you've heard about in all of your sessions with people from across the country. The health lives the future of women and pregnant people were absent from the legislative bodies were mentioned in the majority opinion a number of times, women's bodies weren't mentioned. At all. There are the decision raises legal threats to other rights, to contraception to same sex relationships. And there are huge legal threats looming right now that we're wrestling with the ministration has been working on trying to address everything from interstate travel, emergency obstetrics care which Thank you distribution. Thank you for the work on Tala and the fights about that. And obviously criminal prosecution from the Swift money laws. Texas is law 99 years in prison for violating it. Apply providers get struck out in and finally I would just say that the decision is out of step. With global trends we are standing virtually alone in regressing on abortion rights throughout the world. In the last 30 years. 60 countries have liberalized their abortion laws. And it is understood in those countries, whether it is by legislation or it's by court decisions, that access to abortion care, decisions about abortion are a fundamental issue of gender equality. So our organizations of course haven't given up we are holding the line as best we can litigation is going on. Action has always been in the state courts, but as more as the state boards. There are some bright spots out there. There's five luminary injunctions in place across the country. But the reality is you've already heard, you know, states are falling and it's going to get worse. Another bright spot, of course, is one of the voters get to decide for themselves whether they want to keep their whites as we saw in Kansas, they sell say, heck yeah, and that was really important. And so we're going to hopefully see that as well in Michigan coming up in the fall, but it demonstrates how out of step these legislators are actually with what the people want in terms of retaining their rights. And, you know, ultimately, we know that whatever happens with state constitutions, there are some states there's going to be no path forward in that direction. They don't have initiatives for the voters to take control themselves and amend their constitution and the only protection at the federal level. So thank you to the Biden Harris administration for your strong support for the Women's Health Protection Act. And it has been particularly powerful that the President's made clear filibuster can stand in the way so thank you.
Mark, Marriott, President and CEO, National
Vice President is always great. Thank you for responding to our collective request to collect your request for this meeting, to give you a sense of why and how we've come together. So I want to thank the legacy eight historic Civil Rights leaders who are all present today. And I want to thank the leaders of the reproductive and women's rights organizations who are representative because we made a decision on July 4 weekend, just after the dogs that we were going to come together to re affirm and reestablish this very powerful coalition now. 170 years ago, in Ohio, Sojourner Truth, gave a very, very famous speech, AI alone. And in that speech, she affirmed the connectivity between the abolitionist movement and the women's rights movement. A year later in Seneca Falls, 68 women and 32 men, including Frederick Douglass surprise declaration of sentence, which outlines a theory and an approach to be equal rights, justice and liberty which included gender equality, the movements that we are inheritors of, began with energy together, way back before the Civil War in the early 1900s, in the late 1800s, the suffragists movement, and the then burgeoning civil rights movement, which was a response to Plessy a response to the collapse of reconstruction had powerful, powerful connected the founding on the national herbally was buying money in Georgia and as a civil rights leader of the era. Andrew Standish, Baldwin, a suffragist leader of that era and in our initial organizational papers including a Standing Committee on the Rights of Women. This movement deviated this human and deviated after the passage of the constitutional amendment changed over the rights because black women were left out and all of a sudden, there were no constitutional rights. But nonetheless, the reason why we are here is to be the firm, that historic coalition that the threats particularly they come from the Supreme Court, that our freedoms and threaten our rights, threaten the rights of women, threaten the rights of people of color, and threaten them very, very work that many of our organizations and the people we love and respect and carry out over the last 50 years to make this a more perfect union. So we are here to take as we are determined, not to be silent, not to be passive, while the hands of time will push back to this and this is why we are here today. This for us is the beginning of a concerted effort to work together. But it also is also an effort to educate this generation and our generation of leaders that these movements, the movement for the rights of black people, and other laptop communities and the rights of women. What tract energize and collaborative at the earliest stages of their inception and that today, in the 21st century, we have to re establish that so we thank you and I think we are here because we want to march in us. We want to march together on this issue and many others that will confront our community. So we thank You. We thank your team. We thank the administration because we are in a fight that is applied of a generation and it is a fight. But we know how to wait you can tell instantly. We know how to wage it with strategy. We know how to wage the passion. We know how to raise it within the confines of the democratic systems and institutions that we all believe in. So thank you for having us. I look forward to the discussion.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. This concludes the opening press portion
