Category Archives: Atima Omara-Alwala

YDA praises White House decision on contraception and womens’ health

Posted by rsnyder on January 20, 2012 Comments Off

Today, the White House issued a decisive ruling from the Department of Health & Human Services that would allow millions of women to have access to birth control through their insurance without co-pays. This decision will also now extend toward women who work at religiously affiliated hospitals and attend religiously affiliated universities.

In previous decades, insurance companies refused to cover the services women needed, restricting which kinds of birth control they can afford, refusing to cover contraception altogether and charging women unfair premiums because of their gender.

Between stopping insurance companies from discriminating based on gender, making sure women can get mammograms and other preventive services at no cost, President Obama continues to make strides on women’s health.

“We thank President Obama for standing up for women’s health. The majority of American women use birth control and this ruling had made it easier for more women to have truly affordable access,” said Atima Omara-Alwala, Vice President of the Young Democrats of America.

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Mississippi Voters Reject Extreme “Personhood” Amendment

Posted by rsnyder on November 10, 2011 Comments Off
Another major victory for Democrats and progressives on Tuesday was the defeat of Mississippi’s Initiative 26. Known as the “Personhood Amendment” it would have given the same rights to fertilized eggs as they do to the women who carry them. The Personhood Amendment also would have outlawed abortion in Mississippi, even in cases of rape, incest, domestic violence and life-threatening pregnancy. In addition, this change in the state’s constitution would have criminalized in-vitro fertilization and birth control methods including the IUD.

“The defeat of the “Personhood” Amendment in Mississippi was an important victory for women’s rights, said YDA Vice President Atima Omara-Alwala and former YDA Women’s Caucus Chair. An amendment that allows politicians to interfere in the personal and private medical decisions a women makes, including her right to take birth control is not acceptable”.

The defeat of the amendment was a collaborative effort between faith leaders, reproductive-justice and pro-choice allies, and other Mississippi-based groups that, even in a tough political environment, successfully convinced their neighbors to reject Initiative 26.

“We thank the many young democrat men and women who organizaed in their communities around this issue,” YDA Women’s Caucus Chair, Jillian Cardillo said. “Yesterday we saw even in Mississippi, a state with the most strict anti-choice laws, that people will stand up for freedom and privacy. However, the “personhood” campaign is not over, as we should remain vigilant on similar attempts to get on state ballots in 2012.

As Young Democrats we must continue to articulate our belief that women have not only a right to a safe and legal abortion, but that being able to afford and have access to contraception is a human rights issue. Those who wish to restrict birth control only wish to control women and their choices.

Emily’s List training for women candidates

Posted by rsnyder on September 28, 2011 Comments Off

So often, we as Young Democrats have been the boots on the ground for our Party.  We knock doors for candidates, make phone calls, and organize rallies and events.  But how many of you have thought about being the candidate? Or how many of you have thought about taking a senior staff position on a campaign? Or if you’re already an elected official, have you thought about running for higher office in the near future?

YDA is excited to partner with Emily’s List, the largest Political Action Committee in the country supporting pro-choice Democratic women running for office.  For the remainder of 2011 – 2012, Emily’s List will be hosting their signature Political Opportunity Program (POP) to train female candidates.

If you are a young, pro-choice Democratic woman considering running for public office, or even a young pro-choice Democratic man who expects to work for a female candidate in the next year, sign up here for one of the Emily’s List trainings in a city near you:

Apply today for the Emily’s List Political Opportunity Program

Acceptance into Emily’s List trainings is a competitive process, so please RSVP to YDA so we can track where our members have applied and help ensure that Young Democratic women are benefiting from this incredible program.

To RSVP with YDA, please follow this link and register.

President Obama once said, “We are the change we’ve been waiting for.”  For many women elected officials, their journey in politics began at an Emily’s List training.  YDA is proud to partner with Emily’s List to develop the next generation of progressive female candidates.  Maybe you’re next!

Democratically Yours,

Atima Omara-Alwala
Vice President
Young Democrats of America