“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.
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