Episode 177: The Continued Fight for Reproductive Rights
Since Texas passed SB8, several states legislatures have followed suit with their own versions of legislation that would severely restrict abortion access in the hopes it will be challenged on the federal level, placing Roe v Wade at risk. To give us the lay of the reproductive justice land and action steps to get engaged, L. Joy brings Kelley Robinson to the front of the class. But first, L. Joy catches up with Liuba Grechen Shirley and chats with Vote Mama Spotlight Candidate Sarah Godlweski.
Homework:
Vote Mama Foundation is asking all state legislators who identify as women or as nonbinary, genderqueer, or gender non-conforming to complete their State of Motherhood in American Politics census https://www.votemamafoundation.org/som-about
Use Google or tools like LegiScan to pay attention to your state legislatures, watching out for legislation akin to Texas’ SB8.
Use the information researched from previous homework and reach out to who represents you at the local, state, and federal level. Make sure their stances reflect your values on reproductive rights.
About the Vote Mama Spotlight:
Liuba Grechen Shirley is the Founder and CEO of Vote Mama, the nation’s first Political Action Committee dedicated to electing progressive moms up and down the ballot, as well as the Founder and CEO of Vote Mama Foundation, the leading source of research and analysis about the political participation of mothers in the United States. Vote Mama Foundation is working toward gender equity by breaking the barriers mothers face running for office, normalizing mothers of young children running for office, and enabling legislators to pass family-friendly policies.
In 2018, Liuba ran a historic congressional campaign to represent New York’s 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives. She received the highest vote share of any Democrat to run against the incumbent in 25 years. Liuba raised over $2 million with no corporate PAC money and built a grassroots movement of volunteers that knocked over 250,000 doors. She petitioned the Federal Election Commission and became the first woman in history to receive federal approval to spend Campaign Funds on Childcare.
Vote Mama Candidate Spotlight:
Sarah Godlweski was born and raised in Eau Claire. Her parents were both public school teachers and proud union members. She learned early that when you see something wrong, you stand up and do something about it. Whether it was confronting state leaders in college, tackling problems at the Pentagon as a young professional, or taking on Scott Walker himself in 2018, Sarah has always been fearless in taking on the powerful and winning.
As a fifth-generation Wisconsinite, working mom, and State Treasurer, Sarah understands what workers and families are facing--and will do something about it. Sarah will roll up her sleeves to get the job done. Sarah has already beaten Scott Walker and his allies twice, she’s proven she has what it takes to go toe-to-toe with Ron Johnson and win. Instead of trying to divide our state for political gain, Sarah is traveling everywhere to unite Wisconsinites across all 72 counties and once again build the grassroots coalition it takes to flip this seat.
Sarah lives in Wisconsin with her husband Max, their adorable two-year-old son Hartley, and their rescue dog, Tanner.
Our Guest:
Kelley Robinson is the Vice President of Advocacy and Organizing at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. She brings to this role over 12 years of experience as a leader in the progressive field, with an expertise in sexual and reproductive health. She has served as a key leader in driving Planned Parenthood’s vision for supporter engagement, serving as the lead strategist for its #IStandwithPP and #PinkOut National Mobilizations, creating Path to Power, the organizations’ grassroots training program, and developing a variety of constituency programs. Most recently, she was the campaign director for Planned Parenthood’s Supreme Court fight. Outside of Planned Parenthood, Robinson served as the former board chair of SisterSong and currently sits on the board of the Women’s March.
