Subject: Fighting For Women's Rights
From: Denise Cardinal <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Mon, 8 Jul 2013 14:00:19 -0500 (CDT)

::: ProgressNow - Advancing Progressive Agendas, State by State ::: 

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

It seems as if conservatives have stepped up their attacks on
women's rights these past few weeks, but our state affiliates
have been there with a rapid response. We are working in Texas,
Virginia, and Ohio to show conservatives that the restrictions they
are enforcing are not representative of their constituents and will
not stand in the ballot box. These are just 3 of our 21 states doing
what we do every day - make progress happen, and happen NOW.

As always, let me know what you think, or even better, contribute to
us here.

http://progressnow.pnstate.org/site/R?i=LIZ12cH3u3yE_XKKn2HSAQ

Best,
Denise Cardinal
Executive Director
ProgressNow
ProgressNow Education

 

Progress Texas Stands Strong With Texas Women

Stand With Texas Women Rally
Despite the amazing work of Senator Wendy Davis and the hundreds
of Texans that protested the anti-abortion bill last week, Governor
Rick Perry called another special session with renewed intentions of
passing the bill. The special session started this past Monday, July
1st, and to mark the occasion thousands of Texans joined together to
show their opposition to the attack on women's reproductive
rights. More than 8,000 people gathered outside the Capitol for the
Stand With Texas Women Rally organized by a coalition of progressive
groups including Planned Parenthood, NARAL, Progress Texas, and many
more.

http://progressnow.pnstate.org/site/R?i=Z1IgvPauJudRKaV9zZXzoA

As a part of the rapid response social media team Progress Texas made
sure to capture the action and spread it far and wide. This photo of
the crowd from the 4th floor of the Capitol has 2,932 likes and 3,268
shares. Facebook metrics show that 282,368 have seen the post.
Progress Texas's photos were used widely and in particular were
featured on MSNBC via Chris Hayes's show last Friday. 

For those who weren't able to attend the rally in person, they
have provided a transcript of the speech given by Senator Wendy Davis.
To add to your July 4th barbecue conversations, we have published
highlights of the Stand With Texas Women's movement here.

http://progressnow.pnstate.org/site/R?i=RYjWh6AHSvnnMTCKkGMYxQ
http://progressnow.pnstate.org/site/R?i=7JdTRpo6fmcqiNaumUZ2lg

On the morning that Senator Wendy Davis launched her filibuster,
Progress Texas initiated a "Thank You Wendy Davis" campaign to
offer people a chance to show their support. The organization
collected 12,471 support messages during the filibuster - nearly
1,000 messages an hour - and delivered those messages to Senator
Davis's office. Through this campaign Progress Texas has given
supporters in Texas and across the country the chance to thank the
Senator and join the fight to protect women's rights.

http://progressnow.pnstate.org/site/R?i=iDHqomne-RfkfNj-HMEiqw

Progress Virginia Highlights Conservatives Effort to Restrict
Women's Rights

One year ago, legislation went into effect that requires women seeking
an abortion to undergo a mandatory ultrasound and then wait 24 hours
before she can have a legal abortion. This law was clearly designed to
restrict access to safe abortions and has given the government the
opportunity to play the role of doctor, even though this should be a
women's personal health decision. Progress Virginia marked the
one-year anniversary by challenging state legislators to support
repeal of the law. Working with medical providers and Planned
Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, Progress Virginia highlighted state
legislators who think they make better doctors than actual
physicians. Progress Virginia is working to inform voters of
politicians who put their own beliefs above those of medical
practitioners as well as their constituents. 

Additionally, the Progress Virginia Education Fund is working in a
coalition with women's health advocates to educate voters on the
deceptive "medical clinics" known as Crisis Pregnancy
Centers (CPCs). CPCs are essentially fake medical practices that seek
to dissuade women from obtaining abortions under the guise of
providing health advice. Progress Virginia assisted NARAL Pro-Choice
Virginia in debuting a new investigative report Crisis Pregnancy
Centers Revealed.  The shocking report finds the Virginia
Department of Health refers Virginia women to 18 CPCs to obtain a free
or low-cost ultrasound. Many of those CPCs have indicated they will
refuse to provide an ultrasound image to women seeking an abortion, so
they cannot comply with the law. Progress Virginia worked with NARAL
VA to design a press rollout and social media campaign to make sure
every Virginian knows how conservatives and CPCs are working together
to limit women's constitutional rights.
http://progressnow.pnstate.org/site/R?i=lO_8cHLA4ZGQ9QNZklrUfQ

http://progressnow.pnstate.org/site/R?i=UO4Byf58IvIjrmNOJsHRkw

ProgressOhio Responds to Governor Kasich's Harmful Budget

Throughout the legislative session, ProgressOhio has worked tirelessly
to educate voters about Governor John Kasich's budget and the
harsh abortion restrictions that would go into effect. This included a
series of press conferences with NARAL Ohio and Planned Parenthood
Advocates of Ohio to question the attack on women's rights.
Additionally executive director, Brian Rothenberg, discussed the issue
on NBC4i's
http://progressnow.pnstate.org/site/R?i=Y-BJCBe83SqYnCgWs122Lw

The Spectrum and WOSU-TV's Columbus on the Record.

Governor Kasich's Harmful Budget
Despite, the efforts of ProgressOhio and allies, Governor Kasich
signed the budget on June 30th. The provisions enacted will make it
more difficult for family planning groups such as Planned Parenthood
to receive funding for preventative care, women seeking an abortion
will be required to undergo an ultrasound, and abortion
providers' ability to get transfer agreements with public
hospitals will be severely limited. Also, thousands of Ohio women will
now be unable to receive crucial cancer screenings or annual
check-ups. The controversial budget also undermines crisis and rape
centers, leading Progress Ohio to ask..."who does Kasich
work for?"

http://progressnow.pnstate.org/site/R?i=_qH85oe4pBNIWZGBuTph5Q

The Governor seems to have forgotten that he works for all Ohioans,
including women. However, ProgressOhio intends to remind the Governor
that his actions will not be forgotten. What happens in 2013, will be
remembered in 2014. By educating and engaging voters, ProgressOhio
will show Governor Kasich that this attack on women's rights
will cost him votes. By donating to the "Help Kasich
Remember" campaign, you can be sure to send the message loud and
clear.

http://progressnow.pnstate.org/site/R?i=dYq-0MuSCR_jvwIvaC_nkg

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