ICYMI Georgia
Press Release
Reproductive Freedom for All Arizona Celebrates 6th Annual Reproductive Freedom Day at the Arizona Legislature
Phoenix, AZ — Today, Reproductive Freedom For All Arizona celebrated its 5th annual Reproductive Freedom Day at the Arizona Legislature. Members from across the state gathered to advocate for legislation that protects and expands reproductive freedom, including safeguarding the right to contraception, repealing abortion restrictions, and defending the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Arizona’s Medicaid Program, against threats to affordable health care. Advocates also spoke against legislation that includes dangerous and unnecessary “fetal personhood” language and disinformation surrounding pregnancy.
Even though voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 139 in 2024, enshrining the fundamental right to abortion in Arizona’s constitution, anti-abortion Republicans in the state legislature continue their attempt to interfere with reproductive freedom by pushing an extreme agenda that undermines access to health care.
Arizonans made it clear at the ballot box: they believe in the freedom to make their own decisions about their bodies, families, and futures. Advocacy days like these are part of the organization’s continued efforts to ensure elected officials across the state uphold the will of the 9 in 10 Arizonans who believe that everyone should have the freedom to decide how and when to start or grow a family.
Shortly after the press conference ended, Democratic Senators in the legislature moved to force a vote on the Right to Contraception Act, which would ensure a patient’s right to obtain contraceptives, and a right for health professionals to provide contraceptives and information on their use. GOP Senators promptly moved to block this vote.
Reproductive Freedom for All Director of Arizona Campaigns Athena Salman released the following statement:
“We’re here on behalf of our nearly 100,000 members in Arizona to remind legislators that protecting reproductive freedom, including access to abortion, is non-negotiable. Instead of respecting the will of the voters, every single Republican legislator has voted to undermine Prop 139 and gut abortion access. In fact, just moments after we shared a story of a woman who was denied access to birth control at a local CVS, Republican Senators moved to block a vote on the Right to Contraception Act. We represent the 9 in 10 Arizonans who don’t want politicians and the government interfering with their medical decisions, and we will not be silent.”
Jennifer Dunn, a mother whose family relied on Medicaid, released the following statement:
“Medicaid is not just a ‘government program,’ but a literal lifeline for my family. I became a mother late in life to two miracle boys, and because of access to IVF and the reproductive health care we fight for every day, I have the life I dreamed of. But having children is only the first step—keeping them whole is the lifelong battle. The Trump administration is threatening to take necessary treatments and therapies away, which is not “fiscal responsibility.” It is pure, calculated evil. You do not get to claim the mantle of “Pro-Life” while you actively dismantle the systems that keep our children alive. But I promise you this: we are going into an election cycle, and I will go to the wall for my children and the lives of all children. We are watching, we will remember, and we will vote.”
Ashley Ortiz, a Physician Assistant, wife, and mother, released the following statement:
“I have felt the real-life consequences of these abortion bans. I faced the very real possibility of severe infection, future infertility, or death simply because lawmakers put their ideology above my doctor’s clinical judgment. This harm was entirely preventable; the government should never have interfered in my health care. Arizona made it clear that we want providers and patients, not politicians, deciding medical care, but Arizona Republicans are still trying to push through limits on medication abortion, criminalize pregnancy and miscarriage, and even place rollbacks of emergency care protections. The citizens of Arizona deserve safer, more compassionate policies that respect bodily autonomy and preserve reproductive freedom.”
Amanda Lugo, who was denied her birth control prescription, released the following statement:
“I was denied birth control at the CVS Minute Clinic on Rural and Apache in Tempe due to the provider’s religious beliefs. This was jarring, embarrassing, and impacted my ability to receive timely care. As a Latina who has worked in the democracy space for years, I cannot separate bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom from democracy. If we do not have control over our bodies, we do not live in a free society.”
Event speakers are available for comment.
Watch the press conference here.
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For over 55 years, Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America) has fought to protect and advance reproductive freedom at the federal and state levels—including access to abortion care, birth control, pregnancy and post-partum care, and paid family leave—for everybody. Reproductive Freedom for All is powered by its more than 4 million members from every state and congressional district in the country, representing the 8 in 10 Americans who support legal abortion.