Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness for ALL?

July 8, 2019

 

“... we only ask, that when we stand up and talk about one nation under God, liberty,

justice for everybody, we only want to be able to look at the flag, put our right

hand over our hearts, repeat those words and know that they are true.”

- Barbara Jordan

 

Dear Resister,

 

On this fourth of July, we at Resist reflect on this nation’s promise to its citizens: the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” A promise that has been broken time and time again as those most impacted by oppression are restricted to the margins of society - bereft of resources, options, and hope. And today is no different. 

 

Our worst fears are being realized.

 

Emboldened by Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation, right-wing lawmakers are introducing anti-abortion legislature with the explicit goal of overturning Roe v. Wade… and denying all people of their reproductive rights. 

 

         We knew this fight was coming. Which is why, thanks to you, our grantees are at clinics, schools, community centers, and in the streets fighting misinformation and prejudice at every turn.

 

Now we need you and every other Resister to express the full magnitude of your disgust

and outrage today because the Trump agenda is as ugly as it gets.

We need to raise $135,000 by July 31st to make sure that our grantees hold

strong in these hostile times; that they protect the rights of all people,

especially those living on the edge.

You and I know that abortion bans and heartbeat bills have never been about “saving lives”—they’re about perpetuating systemic racism and sexism, and above all, control .

 

The United States is one of only 13 countries in the world where the maternal mortality rate is WORSE than it was 15 years ago, and Black women are four times more likely to die in childbirth than their white counterparts. Resist grantee Southern Birth Justice Network (1) refuses to be complacent. 

 

Through direct community outreach, popular education, and engaging storytelling, Southern Birth Justice Network is advocating for proper and comprehensive health care across the pregnancy spectrum, including abortion, miscarriage, prenatal, birth, and postpartum care. They provide teens and parents with alternative birthing options, midwifery, and doula care—vital tools for survival not found anywhere else in their community.

Southern Birth Justice Network is doing what policymakers won’t:

protecting the people and families who need our help.

Help us stand with them. 

 

Trump spends millions of taxpayer dollars on hate. We don’t have millions, but we have YOU . Whether you give a little or a lot, every dollar you donate will help our grantees fight for those who need our help the most. When it comes to reproductive justice, it’s a matter of life and death.

 

In Solidarity,

Kendra Hicks

Co-director, Resist 

P.S. Our grantees aren’t large organizations. They’re a network of individual advocates who don’t wait for a progressive government to make a change. They move fast in the fight for progress, they spend their last dollar on the neediest, and they never quit. Please let them know that you don’t quit either—not when the stakes have never been higher. Thank you.

 

 

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1) Southern Birth Justice Network

 

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