Advocates, Artists, and Students Rally for Reproductive Justice in Atlanta
October 22, 2024
TeamURGE@mrss.com
(Atlanta) — On Saturday, October 19, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, and URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, Representative Dr. Jasmine Clark (HD 108), and local activists and artists came together in Atlanta to celebrate the voices of young Latine, Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), Black, and queer heroes and to defend reproductive freedoms in Georgia.
This event marked the final stop of the Joy + Justice Tour, a multiracial celebration of the power of young leaders across the country who are shaping a future of inclusivity, equity, and justice. The event also honored the lives of Amber Thurman and Candi Miller, two Black mothers from Georgia who died because abortion bans stopped them from getting the medical care they needed. Joy + Justice Tour attendees and participants called on the Georgia state legislature to pass the state’s Reproductive Freedom Act, which would make abortion legal and accessible for all communities.
“Georgia’s restrictive abortion ban has led to devastating consequences and shown that abortion access in the state can be dispensed and withheld at the whim of legislators who choose politics over people. In the face of these continued attacks on our basic rights and freedoms that harm marginalized communities most deeply, young people have always been our best hope. Young people are the moral voice of our country, holding the powerful accountable.
“The groups who collaborated to make the Joy + Justice Tour possible work every day with young people who care about the future and understand how reproductive justice is connected to issues such as the economy, immigration, climate change, housing, and racial equity. We were thrilled to come together to celebrate joy, honor those gone far too soon, and call on our elected leaders to do better. We will continue to lift up and celebrate the young BIPOC, queer and trans folks of URGE who deserve to find joy and justice in their fight for change,” said Shante Wolfe, Southeastern States Field Director of URGE.
About 60 people attended the event which was emceed by writer and producer Dani Herd and actor Lilan Bowden. A robust line-up of speakers and performers rallied the audience around support for reproductive justice:
- National reproductive justice organizations: Black Women’s Health Imperative, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, URGE
- Georgia reproductive justice organizations, advocates, and activists: Amplify Georgia Collaborative, Kenneddi Harrison of FVSU (URGE Student Leader), Representative Dr. Jasmine Clark (HD 108), SisterLove, SisterSong
- Georgia artists: DaVeeta Williams-Pough (poet), Miss He and Minty (drag performers), Suntae (musician)
“This election is about restoring freedom: Freedom to choose what we want to do with our bodies. Freedom for doctors to do their job without fear. Freedom to survive and thrive. There is no reason why my daughter should have fewer rights than I had when I was her age,” said Representative Dr. Jasmine Clark (HD 108), who attended and spoke at the event.
Over the past month, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, and URGE have held similar community events in Houston, Texas, and Richmond, Virginia, as part of the Joy + Justice Tour. Together, these events showcased the exceptional achievements of people who have made local and national contributions in fields such as public service, activism, and the arts.
URGE and reproductive justice advocates in Georgia remain committed to ensuring everyone across the state can access the full spectrum of reproductive and sexual health services, regardless of their identity, location, or background.
