FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2022
CONTACT: Allison Abney
allison@emergeamerica.org; 202-670-7994
Statement From Emerge President A’shanti F. Gholar on the Supreme Court Opinion on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
Washington, DC—A’shanti F. Gholar, president of Emerge, the nation’s premier organization that recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office, released a statement following the Supreme Court’s opinion today on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey.
“The ruling that we have all been bracing for was finally released today–the Supreme Court has decided to strip away our right to abortion. Although we have been expecting this, it doesn’t make the decision any less devastating.
About half of our states have laws that are beginning to go into effect right now, closing clinics and restricting access to a wide range of reproductive services. Poor people and people of color who already lack access to health care and economic resources will bear the brunt of this impact. We cannot let this step backward from justice and equity in our country stand.
We can and should immediately mobilize to support people in states where they will no longer have access to this life-saving procedure. We should be mad, we should march, and we should demand change. But ultimately, the only way to stop long-term consequences is to enact laws that ensure access to abortion care and safeguard our core rights.
This current Supreme Court cannot be trusted to make decisions that are in the best interests of a majority of Americans. Going forward, elected offices are ground zero in the fight for reproductive rights and other freedoms. At Emerge, we’re working with our partners to get leaders into office at every level, from federal to state and local, who will champion progressive policies, defend our right to privacy and protect our democracy.
Today’s ruling is just the first decision in a long line of plans Republicans have to chip away at our fundamental rights, but we will not let it happen. Now more than ever, is the time to double down on our work and ensure that our leaders and our laws serve everyone.”
Emerge is hosting a reproductive rights mobilization call with partner organizations across the country on June 30 at 12 p.m. ET and a Step Forward candidate training on July 12 at 8 p.m. ET. For more information and to sign up please visit their website at www.emergeamerica.org.
Emerge has trained more than 5,000 alums since 2002 and currently has more than 1,000 alums in elected office across the country. The organization is committed to reaching 100,000 women of the New American Majority over the next 15 years, fostering a lift as you climb culture for women in politics, and repowering political structures. There are currently 27 state affiliates, and the organization has impacted a total of 45 states, Washington, D.C. and territories.
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