New Poll: Young People Very Concerned about Supreme Court Decision to Strike Down Abortion Protections
(Washington, DC) – Today, URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity released new polling data showing that young people overwhelmingly support the right to abortion, are very concerned about the Supreme Court striking down Roe v. Wade, and want abortion access to be expanded and protected. URGE, a Reproductive Justice organization led by Millennial and Gen Z advocates and organizers of color, partnered with leading millennial- and BIPoC- owned polling firm HIT Strategies to field a national survey of young people (18-34 years old) to evaluate knowledge, opinion, and engagement with current policy issues, abortion access, and the Supreme Court case on abortion rights. The poll was conducted in May 2022, after the draft decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health leaked showing the Supreme Court’s plan to overturn Roe… Read more »
Supreme Court Dismantles Roe v. Wade Abortion Protections; Young People Among Most Impacted, Will Rise Up
On Friday, June 24, 2022 Justice Samuel Alito issued a 5-4 ruling declaring Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban constitutional, overturning Roe v. Wade in the process. Today’s decision did not merely uphold Mississippi’s law–which would have been devastating enough; it did away with the constitutional right to abortion altogether. Simply put, this ruling is a devastating blow to abortion access in the country. It will be particularly harmful to young people, communities of color, and people with low income, many of whom – especially those in the South and Midwest – were already living with barriers to access that resemble a post-Roe future. Currently, 26 states are set to partially or completely ban abortion, ranging from 15-weeks to six weeks, or as Oklahoma just demonstrated, from the moment of fertilization. Following… Read more »
URGE – Member of the California Future of Abortion (CA FAB) Council – Supports Newly Introduced California Constitutional Amendment to Spell Out Abortion & Contraception as Fundamental Rights
As the nation braces for the Supreme Court’s ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (with the anticipation that the 15-week Mississippi abortion ban will be upheld and the Court’s 49-year-old precedent set by Roe v. Wade will be overturned), state legislators in California have introduced SCA 10 to explicitly name abortion and contraception access as fundamental rights for Californians. This legislative maneuver underscores previous efforts to position the state as an abortion sanctuary, which have been backed by Governor Newsom. While URGE recognizes that California’s progressive strides in no way eliminate the harm caused by rampant anti-abortion legislation in states across the South and Midwest, we applaud California legislators for their work to uphold bodily autonomy. “SCA 10 would take a step further California’s commitment to being a… Read more »
Updated Statement on Alabama’s Anti-Trans Healthcare Laws
Today, URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity celebrates the outcome of the Alabama case, Rev. Eknes-Tucker v. Marshall, as a step to protect transgender and non-binary young people in exercising their bodily autonomy in health care decisions. The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, Northern Division, held that a portion of the anti-trans healthcare law that passed in Alabama last month cannot stand. The sections that would criminalize doctors for providing gender-affirming healthcare to trans and non-binary youth in Alabama have been enjoined by the courts and are not currently being legally enforced. Harmful sections of the law remain in effect, including provisions that require teachers and school personnel to notify legal guardians of a child’s gender dysphoria or face criminal charges. Other laws targeting trans… Read more »
URGE RESPONDS TO LEAKED SCOTUS OPINION OVERTURNING ROE V. WADE
On Monday, May 2, 2022, POLITICO shared a leaked draft majority opinion for the upcoming Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court case, revealing that Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey will likely be overturned. This decision would effectively ban abortion in many states across the country. While the leaked draft is not a final opinion, it has been confirmed by Chief Justice Roberts to be an authentic draft opinion from Justice Alito. Simply put, if the Court moves forward with this ruling, it will be devastating for young people, communities of color, and people who need abortions and will change the reality of abortion access for millions of Americans. As we wait to hear about the fate of nearly 50-years of precedent, URGE: Unite for Reproductive… Read more »
URGE CELEBRATES CONFIRMATION OF JUSTICE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON AS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO SERVE ON THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
WASHINGTON – Today, URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity celebrates the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, making her the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States with a 53-47 vote. Over the past several weeks, the world has learned about Jackson’s extraordinary qualifications, character, and values. With her diverse experience, we are confident that she will bring tremendous knowledge and much needed fresh insight to the Court. Since President Biden announced her nomination, we have been heartened by the outpouring of support for Jackson from individuals and organizations across the country. “This nomination is a monumental day in the history of the United States. Despite partisan attacks riddled in misogynoir, our next Associate Justice has overcome yet another hurdle that the legal… Read more »
URGE RESPONDS TO SENATE’S FAILURE TO PASS THE WOMEN’S HEALTH PROTECTION ACT
WASHINGTON – Today, in a 46-48 vote the U.S. Senate refused to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA). URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity is disappointed by the Senate’s vote on this necessary legislation that would move us one step closer to real abortion access for all. WHPA is bold federal legislation that creates a statutory right for healthcare providers to provide abortion care, and a corresponding right for their patients to receive that care, free from medically unnecessary restrictions that single out abortion and impede access. At a time when states like Texas and Mississippi have launched attacks on Reproductive Justice, it is critical that the federal government steps in to defend abortion care across our nation. Yet, despite these consistent and dangerous attacks on abortion, many politicians… Read more »
URGE Endorses Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the First Black Woman Nominated for Appointment to the Supreme Court of the United States
WASHINGTON – Today, President Joe Biden nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman nominee to the Supreme Court. After careful consideration of her qualifications, URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity is pleased to support Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as our next Supreme Court Justice. We applaud President Biden for fulfilling his commitment to nominate a Black woman to this vacancy and we are confident that Judge Jackson will excel as a Justice and will make the Court a better representation of the demographics of our nation. We encourage the Senate Judiciary Committee to ensure a fair and timely confirmation process. We trust that after Senators review Judge Jackson’s outstanding record, there will be a prompt confirmation vote with bipartisan support. “As the next Supreme Court Justice, we… Read more »
URGE Marks 49th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade with Young People’s Roundtable as Fate of the Landmark 1973 SCOTUS Ruling Hangs in Balance
MEDIA ADVISORY WHO: Event hosted by URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity. Students from Kansas, Ohio, Georgia, Alabama, and California. Moderators: Cindy Cruz (she/her/ella), Western States Director Desiree Luckey (she/her/hers), Director of Policy Collegiate Panelists: Jordan Barrant (she/hers) – Chapter President, URGE Spelman Delaney Jones (she/her) – Executive Chair, URGE Wichita State University (Feminists on Campus Uniting Students) Ursula Justice (they/them) – Chapter Leader, URGE University of Alabama Huntsville Z Zenobia (they/them) – Humboldt State Univ. Representative, Pro-Abortion Student Advisory Board Maria Renteria (she/they) – Former Canvasser, URGE Ohio WHAT: URGE and student panelists from several of our investment states will host Growing Up With Roe, Going Beyond It: A Young People’s Roundtable to explore the complexities surrounding the landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling identifying abortion as a… Read more »
URGE Remembers Darshan Khalsa, Immediate Past Board Chair and Previous Staffer – “An Absolute Force”
Today we remember the life and legacy of a beloved member of the URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity community, Darshan Khalsa (she/her), who passed away December 13, 2021. Darshan’s history with URGE ran deep. She was a member of URGE’s Board of Directors for six years (2014 – 2020), culminating in her service as Board Chair. From 2008 – 2011, under URGE’s previous name – Choice USA, Darshan was on staff as Deputy Director. Her contributions to building URGE and supporting our staff, Board, and members past and present are significant. Simply put, URGE would not exist without her leadership. She helped keep URGE stable and solvent during the 2008 recession when non-profits large and small were closing all over the country. She also oversaw a successful executive transition and URGE’s significant surge in growth during her tenure as Board Chair. But beyond these measurable successes, Darshan’s sly sense of humor, thoughtful justice analysis, and kind and open heart will be what many… Read more »
