Black History, SCOTUS, RI Hearings & MORE

At The Womxn Project, we appreciate the idea of setting aside time to look back at important moments in Black history or to share stories of Black people from the past who have helped to shape our country and shake things up in the name of justice and freedom. We have included some information below to make sure we take action throughout the year and we have some opportunities to speak out for justice!

Supreme Court Action

First, as you probably know, President Biden just announced the nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court.

Congress must immediately vote to confirm her nomination and make history by elevating the very first Black woman to the nation’s highest Court! I was on a call this week with a range of national organizations and a major emphasis is even if our national delegation is in support of her nomination, reach out anyway. They need to see the numbers of calls flooding in.

TAKE ACTION with us – urge your senators to confirm this brilliant and qualified person right away!

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Rhode Island: Medicaid Expansion for Pregnant People

Secondly, here in RI next Thursday, the House Finance Committee will hear a set of Medicaid expansion budget articles and bills, including legislation to extend postpartum coverage to 12 months and to cover all kids. These are important changes that will help to improve health outcomes, especially among Black mothers who are more likely to be in low wage jobs and need to use the Medicaid program and are experiencing a true maternal health crisis.

Bills like H7290 (12 months postpartum) are an important step forward to close gaps in access to care and enhance birth equity to ensure the dignity and meet the needs of Black mamas – and all Rhode Islanders.

We are happy to provide talking points. You can provide verbal or written testimony.

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Black History “Month”

It is right that we should have an occasion where we pause and we appreciate the contributions of Black men and women, but we worry that in doing so we sometimes give ourselves a pass at taking a look at what people of color are facing right now.

• We are failing Black mothers.  Black women are truly in the middle of a public health crisis.  Recent studies have shown that Black women in the US are at least 3x more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes and face dramatically higher rates of complications in pregnancy.
  – Learn more and support the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, a national network acting to advance changes to address the maternal mortality crisis facing Black women.
  
• Systemic oppression paired with financial obstacles are proving fatal to Black mothers. There are changes that can be made.  We can continue to strive to close gaps in health care coverage and the availability to the care women need to plan and have healthy pregnancies and deliveries.  We made great strides with the incredible leadership of local Black women leaders and birth workers expanding access to doula care, but there is still much to do!
  – The National Health Law Program is working to expand Medicaid coverage to improve access to birth workers, which has been shown to improve birth equity and health outcomes.
  – Black Mamas Matter Alliance is also organizing a Black Maternal Health Week April 11-17th.
• As we wait to hear the fate of Roe with the pending Supreme Court decision challenging the Mississippi ban on abortion, we must acknowledge the right to abortion has been pushed out of reach by restrictions and denials of health coverage. This is especially true for women of color, low-income folks, young people and other folks pushed to the margins.
  – We can take action to help close the gaps by supporting abortion funds, the mutual aid groups helping people to get the care they need no matter where they live.

We should honor those who have come before us, but also commit to working right now to push for real and lasting change!

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Women’s Health Protection Act Vote

Equal access to abortion care—everywhere—is vital to social & economic equality, reproductive autonomy, racial justice and health equity. While we passed a bill to protect the right to abortion in Rhode Island, we still have work to do!

Passing the Women’s Health Protection Act is a critical step toward creating a world where every person—regardless of who they are or where they’re from—is free to make the best health care decisions for themselves, their families, and their lives. 

WE NEED the Women’s Health Protection Act! As we await the Supreme Court decision, we must remember Roe is the floor, not the ceiling. It’s time for Congress to ensure that abortion is accessible for everyone! We need to act for abortion access – TAKE ACTION!

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In conclusion, real change requires action – all year long. We will continue to keep you informed and engaged – and we hope inspired to keep up the work for the change we all need and deserve! Get involved in the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act campaign today by clicking in based on what you can do!