Planned Parenthood Stands in Solidarity With Civil Rights and Immigration Rights Movements
For Immediate Release: Jan. 17, 2017
Will join both rallies on January 14
Washington, DC —Planned Parenthood Federation of America is proud to support the We Are Here to Stay, and We Shall Not Be Moved, rallies being held in Washington DC on January 14, as a timely act of solidarity with our immigrant and civil rights partners, against issues of mass deportation, voter disenfranchisement, and hate crimes.
Statement from Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
"Planned Parenthood stands as a supporter and advocate for the intersecting issues that disenfranchise many people from reaching their fullest potential. As we head into the holiday to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., both marches carry his belief in ‘beloved community’ and the ‘fierce urgency of now.’ We are spurring a new generation of civil rights leaders into action against politicians bent on not only prohibiting access to healthcare, but also advancing political agendas that rely on -isms and phobias of every stripe.
"As a healthcare provider, we are proud to serve patients regardless of immigration status and proud to be a safe space for people of all races, faiths, and gender or sexual identities. The compassion we provide patients in our health centers is not always mirrored in their lived experiences beyond our doors, and that’s why we fully support these civil rights marches as they uplift the highest human values of love, compassion and family.
"We continue to stand on the fundamental belief that access to healthcare is not only a civil right, but a human right as well."
Planned Parenthood, along with more than 25 national organizations, has partnered with United We Dream and National Action Network, to organize the marches aimed at promoting civil rights, healthcare for all, and protecting immigrants and refugees from hateful attacks and policies. This is part of Planned Parenthood’s continued effort to bolster its partnerships with emerging leaders in people of color and immigrant communities advocating for the protection and expansion of access to preventive health care.
Both rallies will embark simultaneously from Metropolitan AME Church and Sylvan Theatre at 11 a.m.
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Planned Parenthood is the nation's leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation's largest provider of sex education. With approximately 700 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.