URGE READY TO MOBILIZE OVER INAUGURATION WEEKEND AND BEYOND
Washington, DC – In anticipation of protests happening during and after the inauguration of President-Elect Donald Trump, URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity issued the following statement: “Throughout 2016, we have seen people-powered movements take action and take to the streets in support of the issues that matter to them. Young people have been on the front lines of these movements, standing up for their values and sometimes putting themselves at risk to do so. Since the election of Donald Trump, those who have been devastated by his Electoral College victory have been looking for ways to resist the impending agenda that will threaten racial justice, reproductive rights, gender equity, LGBTQ liberation, economic security, and so much more. The Women’s March on Washington is one of the events that… Read more »
KANSAS DECISION TO DEFUND PLANNED PARENTHOOD PUTS POLITICS ABOVE THE HEALTH OF YOUNG PEOPLE
In response to the recent decision by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to terminate Planned Parenthood’s participation in Kansas Medicaid, Kierra Johnson, Executive Director of URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, issued this statement: “We are deeply disappointed that the Kansas authorities have made the politically motivated decision to block Planned Parenthood’s participation in Kansas Medicaid. This decision will surely keep young Kansans from critical healthcare services. Young people are less likely to have health insurance and more likely to have low-paying jobs. The healthcare available at Planned Parenthood is affordable partially because of Medicaid reimbursements. Protecting Medicaid reimbursements helps to ensure that young people do not have to go without the healthcare they need. This announcement comes just weeks after the Center for Medicaid Services issued… Read more »
YOUNG ACTIVISTS LAUNCH NATIONAL #ABORTIONPOSITIVE CAMPUS TOUR
Washington, DC April 1, 2016 — URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity and All* Above All announced a National #AbortionPositive campus tour to build support for abortion access for all. The tour, visiting 10 campuses in 5 states, will allow students to learn about restrictions in their state and take action to improve abortion access in their communities. Specifically, participants will show their support to end bans on abortion coverage for low-income people nationwide. This tour comes at a critical time for the reproductive justice movement. Recently, the Supreme Court heard Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, the most consequential abortion case since the 1990s, and a decision is expected in June. More broadly, 1,024 abortion restrictions have been created since Roe v. Wade, with 25% of those bills enacted… Read more »
EACH WOMAN ACT IS AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD FOR ABORTION ACCESS
Washington, DC July 8, 2015 — In response to the newly introduced legislation, the EACH Woman Act, Kierra Johnson, Executive Director of URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, issued this statement: “Today, new legislation was introduced into the House of Representatives that will be a huge step forward for increasing access to reproductive healthcare, especially for young people. The EACH Woman Act, introduced by Rep. Barbara Lee and 70 co-sponsors, will ensure that someone struggling to make ends meet will be able to make important, personal decisions based on what is best for their circumstances, not how much money they make. For too long, politicians have interfered in our health decisions by denying insurance coverage for abortion care. For young people, who are more likely to be low income… Read more »
HOUSE VOTE ON 20 WEEK BAN PUTS POLITICS ABOVE THE HEALTH OF YOUNG PEOPLE
CONTACT: Kate Londen 202-965-7700 x 115 klonden@urge.org Washington, DC May 12, 2015 — In response to the upcoming vote in the House of Representatives on a ban on abortion after 20 weeks, Kierra Johnson, Executive Director of URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, issued this statement: “Once again, anti-choice politicians are putting the country’s most pressing issues on the back burner to vote on yet another bill aimed at restricting access to basic healthcare. This ban on abortion after 20 weeks would be a dangerous law keeping young people from accessing the healthcare they need. Personal medical decisions like this are best left to the pregnant person in consultation with those they trust, not politicians. Young people, in particular, are more likely to face barriers to accessing safe abortion… Read more »
CHOICE USA CHANGES NAME TO URGE: UNITE FOR REPRODUCTIVE & GENDER EQUITY
July 11, 2014 Washington, DC – Choice USA announced today that the organization will be re-branded as URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity. The new name highlights the diversity of work that the organization was already undertaking across the country. URGE’s mission will stay the same and the organization will continue to mobilize the diverse, upcoming generation of leaders. “For 22 years, the young people we work for and with have guided our organization, as they began to view pro-choice issues in a more complex way, so did we,” said Kierra Johnson, URGE Executive Director. “This name change reflects better symbolizes the kind of work we have been doing for years and the values we already hold.” URGE is the leading organization for young people advocating for reproductive rights, sexual… Read more »
SUPREME COURT DECISION ON CONTRACEPTION COVERAGE WILL HARM YOUNG PEOPLE
“Today’s decision will have far reaching consequences for young people who have benefited greatly from no-copay birth control coverage. For young people, who often face the greatest financial strain from healthcare costs, this decision will surely mean more will be unable to afford critical healthcare. Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties have argued that this case was about religious freedom. In reality, this case is about preserving the religious freedom of employers at the expense of taking that freedom away from employees. This decision jeopardizes the birth-control coverage that millions of working women already rely on, especially for those who work in hourly positions at corporations like Hobby Lobby and may struggle to make ends meet. This fight is not over. We will continue to make sure that the people who would impose… Read more »
Choice Usa Celebrates Its 21st Birthday by Honoring Young Activists With Jessica Valenti and Gloria Steinem
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Washington, D.C. — Choice USA, the leading youth-focused national reproductive justice organization, awarded outstanding young leaders in the field of reproductive rights and justice, and veteran activists who make their work possible. This year Choice USA also celebrated its 21st anniversary with special reflections on the history of the organization. “Young people bring passion and commitment to the fight for reproductive justice,” said Kierra Johnson, Choice USA’s executive director. “Whether by the lobbying in the statehouse, voting at the polls, blogging online, or organizing on campus – young people are living their pro-choice values and their progressives identities.” The event featured five awards, one to honor excellent work from a student chapter and four awards to individuals. Nicole Clark, social worker and writer, won the Excellence in… Read more »
Choice USA Launches “Bro-Choice” Week of Visibility
For Immediate Release Washington, D.C. — Choice USA has officially launched their newest campaign, titled Bro-Choice, which focuses on conversations about healthy masculinity within a reproductive justice framework. Bro-Choice aims to create a network of outspoken, actively-engaged men, disrupting the narrative that sexual health, reproductive rights and rape prevention are exclusively “women’s issues.” As part of National Sexual Assault Awareness month, Choice USA will be holding a week of visibility around rape culture and healthy masculinity on April 22-26, 2013. The program includes a pledge that men can sign to become “part of the solution” to fighting rape culture and sexual assault. Students in campus chapters in five states will spend next week be engaging their peers in conversations and collecting Bro-Choice pledges on their campuses. The pledge can also… Read more »
Kansas College Students Converge on State House to Lobby Against Omnibus Abortion Restriction Bill
For Immediate Release Topeka, KS – College students from across the state gathered today in the capital to speak to their state legislatures and show their support for reproductive rights. More than twenty students from four universities met with Kansas legislators to lobby against the reintroduction of the extreme Kansas Omnibus Abortion Restriction & Taxation Bill. The bill would not only create new tax penalties on families and businesses, but would also mean imposing extreme restrictions to accessing reproductive healthcare in Kansas. The students are all members of their campus chapter of Choice USA, the leading youth-led… Read more »
