Missouri Monitor: April 5, 2021

Tell Your State Senator: Protect Missourians’ Reproductive Freedom

With seven weeks left in this year’s session, the Missouri Senate has advanced five different bills attacking our reproductive freedom. The priorities are upside down; instead of COVID plans, these politicians are trying to pass abortion bans. They want to impose insulting new requirements specifically designed to make it harder for a person to access abortion. They're filing bills to spread misinformation, shame patients who have abortions and punish doctors who provide them. They've advanced a bill that would treat abortion as murder, criminalizing doctors and patients; it could even ban in vitro fertilization (IVF) and common forms of birth control, like the pill and the IUD.

Of the five bills moving right now, the latest attempt to “defund” Planned Parenthood could harm the most people. Not only could this discriminate against thousands of patients by blocking them from getting birth control, cancer screenings and STI testing and treatment — it could also jeopardize the state's entire Medicaid program, impacting hundreds of thousands in communities across Missouri.

It's a lot, but we have power when we act together. Tell your state senator: Stop the attacks on our reproductive health, rights, and freedom! Missourians deserve a government that works so all of our families can thrive!

Wednesday: Southwest Missouri Virtual Volunteer Meeting

It's time to catch up with your comrades for reproductive freedom! Yes, democracy is under attack, along with sexual and reproductive health care — and we still we continue to build power. JOIN US! Sign up and we’ll email you the link to join us on Zoom.

☎️  Volunteer Opportunity: Virtual Phone Banks

Want to take action to support reproductive freedom without leaving your house? Our grassroots organizers have just the thing! Join weekly virtual phone banks on Thursdays and Fridays for the rest of the legislative session.

You bring the computer, phone internet access, we’ll supply the information and support you need to have impactful conversations with Planned Parenthood supporters across the state.

Protect Direct Democracy: Email Your Elected Officials Now

Missouri lawmakers are considering dangerous bills that could effectively shut down the ballot initiative process for Missourians. We, the people, petitioned our fellow Missourians to raise the minimum wage, expand Medicaid, protect stem cell research, and more when our leaders failed to act.

Now, certain politicians are no longer satisfied with only reversing the will of the people. They want to end direct democracy and silence us. We have fought against — and stopped— bills like this before. We can — and must — do it again.

SEMO Generation Action Health & Hygiene Drive

The Planned Parenthood Generation Action Chapter at Southeast Missouri State University is collecting health & hygiene items (like shampoo, soap, tampons, pads, diapers, socks, shower shoes, towels, blankets, sweatshirts & sweatpants) for The Safe House for Women in Cape Girardeau. If you’re nearby, you can bring items to the drop boxes located across campus. If you’d like to donate from afar, you can send Visa gift cards to:

Safe House for Women
P.O. Box 1167
Cape Girardeau, MO 63702

Questions? Email Grassroots Organizer Aaron Lerma!

Recap: Black HIV Awareness Day Condom Distribution on Campus

The student activists at Harris-Stowe State University’s Generation Action chapter distributed safer sex kits across campus to honor National Black HIV Awareness Day. Each safer sex kit included condoms, lubricant and a QR code promoting the next campus event. Kudos to chapter leader Krysten for leading the work — they distributed more than 1000 condoms!

Get Your Tickets for the May 13 Premiere of “At the Center – Caring for Columbia”

Join Planned Parenthood Great Plains at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 13 for At the Center — Caring for Columbia. Premiering live on YouTube, this virtual event will take viewers on a journey of the history of Planned Parenthood in mid-Missouri, and provide an inside look at the future of sexual and reproductive health care in the region.  

Sponsorships and tickets available now!