Thousands Rally to Protect Reproductive Rights at Women’s March

WASHINGTON, DC — Thousands of people in Washington, D.C. and across the country convened today to support equality and justice as part of the Women’s March’s 2019 #WomensWave. The Women’s March’s comprehensive policy agenda includes calls for the advancement of reproductive health, rights, and justice — including the reduction of racial disparities in maternal health and support for the EACH Act, which would reverse the unfair Hyde amendment and related restrictions on abortion access.

In November, pro-reproductive health representatives took back seven state legislatures and won over 300 state seats. Now we have a pro-reproductive health majority in the U.S. House of Representatives that supports access to health care. Advocates are ready to work alongside these leaders to make real progress for reproductive rights at the state and federal level.

We are proud to once again join the Women’s March, with numerous progressive partners to further our fight for equity and justice. That fight includes open and honest conversations and unequivocally reaffirming that there is no place for anti-Semitism, homophobia, transphobia — nor bigotry of any kind — in our communities, our movement, or our country.

Statement from Dr. Leana Wen, President, Planned Parenthood Action Fund:

The energy at Women’s Marches around the country shows the power of grassroots activism and our united commitment to fighting for reproductive rights and social justice. Over the past two years, we have come together to fight the unprecedented, nonstop attacks on our health and rights from the Trump administration: to save the Affordable Care Act, protect the right to safe, legal abortion, and ensure that millions of patients have continued access to Planned Parenthood for cancer screenings, STI tests, birth control, and the full range of reproductive healthcare. In November, women, particularly women of color, rose up across the country to elect an unprecedented number of reproductive health champions who have a mandate to protect and expand our reproductive rights. Our elected officials are starting to reflect the views of the clear majority of people in this country. We know that reproductive health care is health care, women’s health care is health care, and health care is a human right. The #WomensWave is ready for our elected officials to take bold action, but we’re not just waiting around. We’re marching, we’re organizing, we’re voting, and we won’t back down.

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Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational, advocacy and electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.