Monday Monitor: January 29, 2018

On January 24, the Senate Committee on Seniors, Families, & Children held a hearing on SB 724, a bill to ban abortion based on sex, race, or prenatal testing that shows a Down syndrome diagnosis. Bans like SB 724 co-opt very real concerns about discrimination on the basis of race, sex, and ability in an effort to restrict access to safe and legal abortion.

Two ob/gyns and a medical students testified against SB 724, explaining that it inserts the government between a doctor and their patient. The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) testified in opposition to the bill because bans based on sex-selection are based in racist stereotypes about Asian-American and Pacific Islander women. Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri opposed the bill, and shared testimony from the disability rights community opposing SB 724 because it does nothing to improve conditions for people with disabilities and their families. The ACLU of Missouri and NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri also testified against the bill. The next step is a committee vote on SB 724, which could come as soon as this week.

• Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri: Senate Bill 724 Fact Sheet
• Follow us on Twitter as we live-tweet hearings: @PPMO_Advocates

Recap: Joplin Safe Sex Kit Assembly Party

Supporters of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri gathered at the Joplin Public Library on Wednesday, January 24 to assemble safe-sex kits. Folks from the Green Alliance of Southwest Missouri joined in, and dozens of safe-sex kits were put together. Volunteers will distribute the kits, which have condoms, lube, and an information card, to patrons at bars on St. Patrick’s Day.

• KZRG: Safe Sex Kits

Recap: Kansas City Volunteer Action Night: Roe’s 45th Anniversary

Planned Parenthood Great Plains supporters turned out to the Westport Library to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion. Guest speaker Donna Bachmann gave an oral history of life before Roe, sharing her experience as a member of the Women’s Health and Abortion Collective.

Recap: Sen. Koenig Yard Sign Canvass

Planned Parenthood volunteers spent their Saturday morning canvassing Missouri State Senate District 5 to distribute yard signs that hold Sen. Andrew Koenig (R-Manchester) accountable for wasting taxpayer dollars by attacking Planned Parenthood and making it more difficult to access safe and legal abortion.

• Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri: Hold Sen. Koenig accountable

Volunteer Opportunities

Join the fight for access to health care on the state and federal levels! Join Planned Parenthood organizers and volunteers to crowd-canvass, make calls, and enter data. You can participate in the phone banks in person or remotely!

• Columbia Data Entry & Phone Banking: Tuesday, Jan. 30 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
• Columbia First Friday Canvassing: Friday, Feb. 2 from 6:00-8:30 p.m.
• Springfield Healthy Neighborhood Canvass: Saturday, Feb. 17 from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Clean Missouri Democracy Reform Campaign

Planned Parenthood is supporting Clean Missouri, a non-partisan effort to reform our democracy by banning big lobbyist gifts, capping campaign contributions, and improving the way we draw district lines. Join us and help put power back in voters' hands!

• Springfield: Email Southwest Missouri Grassroots Organizer Stacy Sherrod
• St. Louis: Email Lead Grassroots Organizer Alaina Smith

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