Press Release
Leading Progressive Groups Announce Women’s Summit Before Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee
NARAL Pro-Choice America, EMILY’s List, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Higher Heights for America, All* Above All Action Fund, National Women’s Law Center, UltraViolet Action, She The People, PODER PAC, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund to Host First-of-its-Kind Event
For Immediate Release: March 12, 2020
Contact: [email protected]
WASHINGTON, DC — With the Democratic presidential field narrowed to just two major candidates, Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, leading advocacy and political organizations announced today that they will hold a Women’s Summit the day before the Democratic National Convention this summer in Milwaukee, WI.
Particularly after four women candidates left the race, these groups — focused on building women’s political power and advocating for reproductive freedom and justice — will ensure women’s perspectives are front and center for the Democratic National Convention. The summit will elevate women’s voices, especially women of color who are a crucial voting bloc, and ensure that the Democratic party keeps issues that especially affect women, including access to abortion, nondiscrimination protections for all LBTQ women, paid family and sick leave, birth control, pay equity, safe working conditions, child care, and sexual harassment, front and center in the conversation.
The announcement comes not only on the heels of Elizabeth Warren’s departure from the race, but also the Supreme Court hearing oral arguments in the first major abortion-related case since Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed, and ahead of the Supreme Court hearing a major case on access to birth control in April. The stakes are high for gender equity and reproductive freedom and justice. Democratic voters place a high priority on ensuring individuals have the ability to decide if, when, and how to raise a family, especially in light of ongoing attacks on reproductive freedom by anti-choice politicians and ideologues on the federal judiciary.
The Women’s Summit, planned for Sunday, July 12, 2020 in Milwaukee, WI, will be hosted by:
- NARAL Pro-Choice America
- EMILY’s List
- Planned Parenthood Action Fund
- Higher Heights for America
- All* Above All Action Fund
- National Women’s Law Center Action Fund
- UltraViolet
- She The People
- PODER PAC
- National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund
“Women have powered the opposition to Trump from day one. Women voters flipped the House in 2018 and have been key to electoral victories up and down the ballot since 2016. And to win this fall, Democrats will need overwhelming support from women voters. Full stop. That is why we’re thrilled to work with this phenomenal group of women leaders to provide a space where activists and advocates can come together to discuss agenda, policies, and what kinds of mobilization we need to win in November and make our issues central to governing priorities moving forward. We hope that doing this transformational event on the eve of the Democratic Convention will highlight to our nominee and our party just how crucial our issues and our efforts are in driving the women voters who will ensure the most sexist and misogynistic President in generations is a one-term President.” -Ilyse Hogue, President of NARAL Pro-Choice America
“The importance of this election for women of color cannot be overstated. States are racing to ban abortion and this administration is robbing women, young people, LGBTQ people, and immigrants of our dignity and freedoms, and we’re not having it anymore. Our strength is in our numbers — more and more people of color are voting in every election. We want a president that protects our rights, advances reproductive justice for our communities, and has a plan to ensure that each of us can make decisions about abortion without shame or coercion. And that starts by ending abortion coverage bans like the Hyde Amendment.”-Destiny Lopez, Co-Director of the All* Above All Action Fund
“In 2018, Democrats made sweeping change in this country because of women voters, particularly women of color. We are proud to stand with our sister organizations to host this event to ensure that we center the conversation and our party around women, the voters who will throw out Donald Trump and ensure Democratic majorities.” -Stephanie Schriock, President of EMILY’s List
“Black women have once again proven that the road to the White House is paved by Black voters participation. Black women from across the country are demanding our return on our voting investment in the form of policies that directly impact Black women, our families, our communities and nation and we are claiming our seats at decision-making tables.” -Glynda Carr, President and CEO of Higher Heights for America
“Now is the time to be bold, and to proudly stand up for our health and our rights. We have watched as the current administration has systematically attacked our most fundamental freedoms — going after access to abortion, birth control, sex education, care at Planned Parenthood health centers, the humanity of trans people, immigrants, and more. Now more than ever we need an outspoken champion who won’t hesitate to fight for our rights and our freedoms, and in particular, will stand with women of color. It’s time we build a better, brighter future for all of us — a future driven by the power of women’s imaginations and what our hearts dare to dream.” -Alexis McGill Johnson, Acting President and CEO of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund
“PODER PAC is proud to join forces with this amazing group of women’s organizations and our fellow sisters of color. This election is critical and women, in particular, women of color will make the difference in ousting Donald Trump and flipping seats in Congress. PODER PAC has seen record breaking numbers of Latinas empowered to make a difference by running for Congress. We stand with Pro-Choice Democratic Latinas and we will make the difference in 2020!” -Ingrid Duran & Catherine Pino, Co-Founders of PODER PAC by Latinas for Latinas
“Women, and women of color in particular, are the base of the Democratic Party and we must play a big part in setting the party’s agenda in order to guarantee that the issues that matter to us are front and center. Make no mistake – women have been on the frontlines of the Trump Administration’s attacks on our communities and our values – and it will take tremendous leadership to get our country back on track. We need Democrats to lead in supporting women’s electoral power, protecting reproductive freedom and winning back our courts, combating maternal mortality amongst Black women, and launching family-friendly policies like paid family leave and affordable childcare programs. This summit will be a chance to make sure our voices are heard and set the agenda for the future.” -Shaunna Thomas, co-founder and executive director of UltraViolet Action
“The 2020 elections are crucial for the progressive LGBTQ community especially for Lesbian, Transgender, Bisexual and queer women. Nearly every issue discussed this cycle has a disproportionate impact on our community. We are people of color, we are low-income, we live with disabilities, we are immigrants and union members, and we need reproductive healthcare, including abortion. We need candidates who understand the LGBTQ policy implications in every issue they address – from immigration and criminal justice to economic and reproductive justice.” -Rea Carey, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund
“Equality for women and girls, especially women of color, is paramount to our country’s prosperity. At every level of our economy, from low-wage workers to CEOs, and on campuses and in homes, women are driving change and progress across the nation. For the last four years, our right to live with safety, equality, dignity and bodily autonomy has been under attack and any candidate with a fighting chance of being elected President must center us in their values and throughout their platforms. Make no mistake – women’s votes are not a given, they must be earned.” –Fatima Goss Graves, President of the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund
“Democrats need women of color, plain and simple. They need our votes, organizing, strategic insight, and energy to mobilize voters to win in November. Women of color have already changed what is politically possible in Georgia, Texas, Virginia, and beyond. Now, it’s time for the nominee and the entire Democratic establishment to back our leadership if they want to win.” -Aimee Allison, Founder and President of She the People
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NARAL Pro-Choice America and its network of state affiliates and chapters are dedicated to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom for all. For more than 50 years, NARAL has worked to guarantee that every woman has the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion. Since 1969, NARAL has made history, grown to over 2.5 million members, and met the moments that have defined this fight with action, power and freedom. In recognition of its work defending our constitutional right to choose, Fortune Magazine described NARAL as “one of the top 10 advocacy groups in America.
UltraViolet Action is a community of more than one million people that drives feminist cultural and political change. Through people power and strategic advocacy, we work to improve the lives of women and girls of all identities and backgrounds, and all people impacted by sexism, by dismantling discrimination and creating a cost for sexism.
The National Women’s Law Center Action Fund (NWLCAF) is the independent, nonprofit political arm of the National Women’s Law Center. NWLCAF fights for gender justice through educational and advocacy activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.
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.
All* Above All Action Fund is the first reproductive justice effort that builds political power to lift bans that deny abortion coverage. Our vision is to restore public insurance coverage so that each of us, however much we make, can get affordable, safe abortion care when we need it. Learn more at www.allaboveallaction.org and @allaboveallact.
Higher Heights for America is building the collective political power and leadership of Black women from the voting booth to elected office and creating the environment for Black women to run, win and lead. Higher Heights is the only national organization providing Black women with a political home exclusively dedicated to harnessing their power to expand Black women’s elected representation and voting participation, and advance progressive policies. Learn more at www.HigherHeightsforAmerica.
She the People is a national network connecting women of color to transform our democracy. We are elevating and amplifying the voice and power of women of color as leaders, political strategists, organizers, and voters. She the People is building an inclusive, multiracial coalition driving a new progressive political and cultural era. Connect with She The People on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
The National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund builds political power, takes action and creates change to achieve freedom and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people and their families. We accomplish this through direct and grassroots lobbying and organizing on legislation and ballot initiatives. As a progressive social justice organization, the Task Force Action Fund works toward a society that values and respects the diversity of human expression and identity and achieves equity for all.