Rise Up for Roe – Protect Our Reproductive Rights

Event Alert: Sunday, August 26, 12 noon to 2 PM at ~~City~~ ~~Hall Park~~ Foley Square, Lafayette & Worth St.

Show up to protect women’s reproductive rights and the right to have control over our bodies.

I thought we won this fight long ago and would never have to worry again. But now we need to fight again.

Rise Up for Roe Tour

On August 11, I attended the kick-off event for the Rise Up for Roe tour. The tour is going to hit 10 cities across the US in the next 11 days, with an awesome slate of inspirational women, to prevent the upcoming proposed confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court and get people to come to the August 26 Unite for Justice nation-wide event. Kavanaugh has indicated his intention to overturn Roe v. Wade and destroy the reproductive rights we won in 1973 during this landmark decision. His track record of anti-reproductive health care extremism seriously puts our constitutional right to abortion at risk.

Many women today have always lived in an America where abortion was a protected right. People may not be aware of the risks women faced before this time, with the horrors of back-alley abortions and a frightening mortality rate for women who had no other choice but to seek out this option. Others tried using bleach, gin, coat hangers, and other horrifying methods to terminate their unwanted pregnancies.

This is not a light matter–it is vitally important to protect our right to have control over what happens to our bodies.

New York City Kick-Off

Chelsea Clinton was the headlining speaker at the kick-off, with a panel of 4 fantastic women:

Lauren Duca – journalist and political columnist for Teen Vogue
Jess Morales Rocketto – Political Director at the National Domestic Workers Alliance
Jess McIntosh – national spokesperson who helps elect pro-choice women and worked on Hilary Clinton’s campaign
Symone Sanders – political commentator who was Bernie Sanders’ national press secretary

A Brooklyn doctor in the audience shared stories of two of her patients who sought abortion, both mothers who didn’t want to increase the size of their family. This brave doctor vowed to keep performing abortion whether it is legal or not. Another courageous woman shared her story of seeking an abortion at the age of 24 because it was not the right time in her life for her to start a family. Bravo!

I want to state here very firmly and clearly that women have a right to an abortion at any time, for any reason. No one has the right to judge a woman who makes this choice, or to prevent her from having an abortion. Period.

Come Protest on August 26

We need to show that we have the numbers to Rise Up for Roe.

There will be a national protest event on Sunday, August 26th to speak out for reproductive rights and prevent Kavanaugh’s confirmation. The Unite for Justice New York City event, organized by the National Organization of Women (NOW) will take place from 12 noon to 2 PM at Foley Square, Lafayette and Worth St. ~~City Hall Park~~~~, Broadway and Chambers St.~~

Plan to come yourself and bring your friends and family.

Take A Single Step – Something You Can Do Now

Other things you can do to protect our reproductive rights:

Dear Senator campaign (by Planned Parenthood) – write to your senator using this easy web form.
Call your senator and leave a 30-second message every day for the next 10 days. Here’s how to find and contact your senator.
The National Women’s Law Center has instituted a tweet campaign that you can take part in.
Talk to your friends and share abortion stories.

Helpful stats

Voters support abortion rights. Seven in ten are opposed to the Supreme Court restricting women’s constitutional rights, including abortion. This includes 87% of Democrats, 86% of Independents, and 54% of Republicans.
65% of women who have an abortion are mothers.
25% of all women have an abortion by age 45.
Only 17 states have abortion laws. Many working women cannot afford to take time off to travel to another state to seek an abortion.

This affects all of us. Take a single step today to protect our reproductive rights.

New York’s Senator Schumer Opposes Kavanaugh’s Confirmation

There is hope, and we still need to make sure our message is loud and clear to all politicians across America. I wrote to the New York Senator, Charles E. Schumer, and received this awesome, articulate letter, which clearly states his opposition to appointing Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, and why:

Dear Ms. Rempel:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy from the Supreme Court of the United States and your opposition to President Trump’s nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to fill the vacancy. I agree that Justice Kennedy’s departure from the Supreme Court has created one of the most important vacancies in our lifetimes.

Our founding fathers created three separate but equal branches of government to prevent any one branch from gaining too much unilateral power. The judicial branch has the critical responsibility of interpreting laws; as the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court makes the ultimate determination of constitutionality. Decisions made in the Supreme Court chambers have far reaching and long-lasting consequences for society. Therefore, the American public must be confident that Brett Kavanaugh will be an independent jurist.

President Trump’s nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to fill the Supreme Court vacancy puts reproductive rights and health care protections for millions of Americans on the judicial chopping block. His own writings make clear that he would rule against reproductive rights and freedoms, and that he would welcome challenges to the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act.

Furthermore, President Trump’s numerous attacks on the judicial branch have raised serious concerns for the integrity of the judiciary. These attacks indicate a clear disregard for the Constitution and an aversion to any judge who is not willing to acquiesce to the President’s policy agenda. Judge Kavanaugh has not yet demonstrated the ability to be an independent juror, especially when it comes to limits on Presidential power.

In considering a candidate for a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court, I have three main criteria: legal excellence, moderation and diversity. Judge Kavanaugh was picked from a list of 25 people who were vetted and approved by the Federalist Society and Heritage Foundation — special interest groups devoted to overturning Roe v. Wade, the court case protecting a woman’s right to choose. These groups have also made it their main mission to strike down the Affordable Care Act. Judge Kavanaugh was nominated because he passed these litmus tests, not because he will be an impartial judge on behalf of all Americans. So, I will oppose his nomination and continue to fight for a bipartisan rejection of this nominee and urge the President to put forth a moderate selection that both parties could support.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please keep in touch with your thoughts and opinions.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer

United States Senator