STATEMENT FROM URGE ON SUPREME COURT HEARING EMTALA ORAL ARGUMENTS
Today, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments for the Moyle v. United States case. This case will decide if Idaho’s extreme abortion ban will supersede the 40-year-old Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). Under EMTALA, hospitals are required to provide lifesaving treatment to patients who arrive at the hospital’s ER, but this case could mean a denial of a pregnant person’s medically necessary emergency care. In response, Kimberly Inez McGuire, Executive Director of URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, said: “Lives are on the line at the Supreme Court again. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) has been working for 40 years, ensuring that pregnant people receive emergency pregnancy and abortion care when they need it. But now, anti-abortion extremists are trying to exclude pregnant people… Read more »
URGE ACTIVISTS ATTEND ADVOCACY DAY IN MONTGOMERY ALABAMA TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD BY LEGISLATORS
MONTGOMERY, AL – Today, URGE: Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity, in partnership with Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health (ACASH) and AIDS Alabama, convened for Sexual and Reproductive Health Advocacy Day at the State House in Montgomery. Advocacy Day was attended by over 100 activists having their voices heard by their state legislators. URGE, working hand-in-hand with young people, harnessed their recommendations in the national Young People’s Policy Agenda and laid out key policies for lawmakers to implement. The agenda envisions a future rooted in safer and healthier communities, fairer economic practices and opportunities for all of us to be active participants in our government. It highlights six main issue areas: Accessing Abortion Without Barriers; Supporting Trans, Intersex and Queer Young People; Realizing the Potential of Our Democracy; Access… Read more »
STATEMENT FROM URGE ON MIFEPRISTONE SUPREME COURT ORAL ARGUMENTS
Today, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments for the Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine case. This case will decide if the abortion pill, Mifepristone, will remain accessible to the public. This is the first time in two years an abortion case will be heard at the Supreme Court following the Dobbs decision. In response, Kimberly Inez McGuire, Executive Director of URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, said: “It’s very clear that young people want more access to abortion care, not less, because abortion gives us control over our futures – where we can live with justice, love freely, express gender and sexuality, and define and create families of our choosing. Mifepristone is safe and effective and backed by over 20 years of scientific and medical… Read more »
Youth Poised as Leading Voting Force: New Poll Underscores Their Firm Commitment to Voting
Contrary to prevailing narratives, young people have not opted out of the electoral process nor lost their faith in the efficacy of voting. Instead, they assert their power in shaping the future of abortion access and influencing elected officials to do the same. (Washington, DC) – This week, URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity launched its Young People’s Reproductive Justice Policy Agenda (YPPA), initially released in 2020, identifying six issue areas that young people want policymakers to focus on. The YPPA captures the top policy concerns of youth in the aftermath of the pandemic, ongoing racial justice movements and key judicial rulings, particularly the 2022 Dobbs decision. A new, concurrent poll affirms the YPPA’s policy issue areas and recommendations. URGE, a national Reproductive Justice organization centering young people of… Read more »
URGE RELEASES 2024 YOUNG PEOPLE’S POLICY AGENDA, HIGHLIGHTING THE POLICY PRIORITIES OF YOUNG VOTERS HEADING INTO THE ELECTION
The Young People’s Reproductive Justice Policy Agenda outlines the most prevalent issues for young people going into the 2024 election, detailing their goals for achieving reproductive justice and full liberation. WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity released the 2024 Young People’s Reproductive Justice Policy Agenda to establish a clear foundation for the policies that will advance young people’s liberation and support policymakers who want to engage with young people. The agenda, supported by a new nationally representative poll of young people ages 18-30, provides insights on domestic issues young people care about, the impact of the current policy landscape and how policymakers can boldly and collectively act to move the nation closer to Reproductive Justice. This agenda was shared with Senators and Members of… Read more »
STATEMENT FROM URGE ON CVS AND WALGREENS BEGINNING TO SELL MIFEPRISTONE IN SEVERAL STATES THIS MONTH
Today, URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity released the following statement after CVS and Walgreens announced that they will begin to sell Mifepristone in states where it is legally allowed, starting as soon as next week. While Mifepristone remains in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court, this move will expand its availability and allow people to more easily and safely self-manage an abortion. Medication abortion is the most common method of abortion in the United States and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use up to 10 weeks into pregnancy. In response, Hope Jackson, Deputy Director of Programs and Policy at URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, said: “URGE applauds CVS and Walgreens for taking this necessary step at this critical moment for abortion access. “Mifepristone is a safe, effective, FDA-approved medication… Read more »
STATEMENT FROM URGE ON ALABAMA SUPREME COURT RULING THAT FROZEN EMBRYOS QUALIFY AS CHILDREN UNDER STATE LAW
On Friday, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos qualify as children under state law and are subject to legislation dealing with the wrongful death of a minor. This poses serious implications for Alabamans accessing reproductive healthcare and fertility treatments, and sets a dangerous precedent for more fetal personhood laws to be introduced nationwide. In response, Shante Wolfe, Southeastern Field Director of URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, said: “The Alabama Supreme Court’s decision to define ‘personhood’ from the moment of conception will have far-reaching consequences for access to reproductive healthcare, and sweeping implications for fertility treatments across the state. “This decision will impact Alabamans’ ability to make decisions about their own bodies and futures. Personhood laws force people to continue pregnancies against their will, restrict access to… Read more »
STATEMENT FROM URGE ON SCOTUS’ DECISION TO TAKE UP ABORTION PILL CASE
Today, the Supreme Court of the United States announced that it will decide on a challenge to the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of Mifepristone this spring, following their previous decision earlier this year that returned the decision back to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mifepristone is a safe and accessible abortion option that has been used by over 5 million people, with a safety record of over 99%. This decision once again puts the future of reproductive freedom for all Americans in the hands of nine justices. In response, Kimberly Inez McGuire, Executive Director of URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, said: “Once again, our health and futures are in the hands of a Supreme Court who has proven they are willing to take away abortion access… Read more »
STATEMENT FROM URGE ON OHIO’S HISTORIC ABORTION WIN
The citizen-led “The Right to Protect Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety Amendment” passed, protecting abortion rights in the state. (Columbus, Ohio) – Today, voters throughout Ohio decisively voted in favor of amending the state’s constitution to protect access to abortion. Ohioans United for Reproductive Freedom, the coalition leading this effort, organized thousands of young people and volunteers across the state to deliver a decisive and necessary victory for reproductive rights and justice. URGE: Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity, has been a leading Executive Committee member of this coalition, bringing the voices of young people, particularly young people of color, to the table for this effort. Kimberly Inez McGuire, Executive Director of URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, issued the following statement: “The people of Ohio… Read more »
STATEMENT FROM URGE ON THE GEORGIA SUPREME COURT’S RULING ON REDISTRICTING MAPS
Atlanta, Georgia – On Thursday, October 26th the Georgia Supreme Court ordered Georgia legislators to redraw the proposed federal and state legislative redistricting maps for the 2024 election, declaring that the proposed maps violated the Voting Rights Act by illegally underrepresenting Black voters. Toni Watkins (she/her), Integrated Voter Engagement Director, at URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, issued the following statement: “I applaud the district court’s decision ordering Georgia legislators to redraw voting district maps to comply with the Voting Rights Act. The data was clear that Black voters were being targeted for underrepresentation. Voting should be as easy and convenient as possible, however time and again we’ve seen politicians pass measures making it harder to cast a ballot and diluting the voices of historically marginalized people. “Young Black people are watching what… Read more »
