Reproductive Justice

 
Abortion Messaging

While Maryland is a leading state in the fight for reproductive justice, the extremism of the anti-abortion movement is relentless. We must continue to fight back to protect and expand abortion nationally. 

There has been a lot of research into what messages around reproductive justice resonate with people.

Here are some key points to keep in mind when talking about abortion care with organizational members, friends and family, the public, on social media, etc: 

  • People resonate with values-driven messaging. Connect with audiences by talking about freedom, autonomy, and health. 
  • Do not repeat opposition messaging. We should not give any more air time to this rhetoric, and it can reinforce their framework. 
  • Focus on the impact on people’s lives, don’t get into the policy weeds. Keep your messages simple and easy to understand. Emphasize the safety and health of people, especially young people, as primary concerns. These values resonate strongly with people. Freedom and autonomy messages test highest with men and swing voters, fundamental right messaging tests best with pro-choice voters.
  • We must share our vision and values strongly and proactively. Effective messaging includes: 

➤ Core messaging – attacking abortion care is attacking our communities. Everyone deserves the right to make their own decisions about their life, family, and safety. Barriers and political interference are unacceptable. We must fight back. 

➤ Vision – freedom, justice, health 

➤ Problem – abortion bans, other restrictive policies  

➤ Solution – call for a specific solution

 
Maryland Ballot Initiative

In March 2023, the Maryland General Assembly passed the “Right to Reproductive Freedom Act” in response to the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade. This legislation proposed adding a ‘Declaration of Rights’ to Article 48 of the Maryland constitution, enshrining the right to reproductive freedom in the state of Maryland. Before this right can be added to the state constitution, it must be ratified by Maryland voters, which is a requirement for all constitutional amendments. The measure will appear on the ballot in November 2024. 

Maryland – Vote FOR Question 1!

 

Maryland currently has strong reproductive freedom laws. However, without an established right in the state constitution, the laws are vulnerable to future changes by legislators or state courts that could change current legal precedent, similar to what happened with the Dobbs decision. 

A constitutional amendment is the strongest possible protection of the right to reproductive freedom and would be very difficult to repeal.

 
Resources

Question 1 Social Media Toolkit

Right to Reproductive Justice Half-Pager

Right to Reproductive Justice One-Pager

 
Local Resolutions

State and local governments play an important role in ensuring the US upholds its  human rights obligations. They must do all they can legislatively to ensure that  all people can access abortion care when they need it, because abortion is health care and access to healthcare is a human right.

That is why we need our elected officials at every level to do everything in their power to protect reproductive freedom, including access to abortion care, and contraception. We need to call on our county leaders across Maryland to follow her lead and ensure that our rights are protected at every level of government.

Write to your county representative and ask them to do everything they can to protect reproductive rights here.

 

Montgomery County Resolution

On Tuesday September 10, 2024 the Montgomery County Council voted unanimously to pass a resolution recognizing abortion as a fundamental human right, introduced by Council Vice President Kate Stewart. The resolution affirms the County Council’s support for reproductive freedom as a human right and a state constitutional right.

Endorsements: Advance Maryland, Forward Midwifery, Ipas US, Montgomery County Commission for Women, Montgomery County, Maryland, Chapter of the National Organization for Women, Montgomery County Women’s Democratic Club, Potomac Family Planning Center, Pro-Choice Maryland, and State Innovation Exchange (SiX)


Read our press release here, and coverage from MoCo360 here.

 

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