Vice President Kamala Harris Joins Rally for Reproductive Rights at Howard University

WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, April 25 Vice President Kamala Harris joined reproductive rights advocates at Howard University to affirm the fundamental right to abortion and the full range of reproductive health care. The rally comes days after the Supreme Court issued a stay in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, blocking lower court restrictions on mifepristone, a safe and effective drug used by more than 5 million people in the U.S. for abortion and miscarriage care since the FDA approved it decades ago. The case, brought by anti-abortion extremists, signals a threat to institutional norms and access to abortion nationwide.

Reproductive rights advocates and health experts released the following statements:

Mini Timmaraju, President of NARAL Pro-Choice America:

“Reproductive freedom is under attack, and we can’t back down from this fight. Today, Vice President Harris affirmed again that the Biden-Harris administration will always defend our fundamental freedoms. While access to medication abortion is imperiled by corrupt courts and GOP extremists look to criminalize abortion and put doctors in jail, the vice president is doing everything in her power to make sure every American is free to make their own decisions about their bodies. We know that 8 in 10 Americans are with us—and we’ll continue to work side by side with them and our champions, including the Biden-Harris administration, until reproductive freedom is a reality for all.”

Deirdre Schifeling, National Political Director, American Civil Liberties Union:

“Though the Supreme Court did its job by maintaining the status quo for medication abortion access, it’s terrifying to think that millions came within hours of losing access to a safe and effective medication for no other reason than radical political ideology. At the same time as the threat to our reproductive freedom has reached unprecedented levels, the same groups are advancing a campaign taking aim at a wide-range of other fundamental rights. Extremists are passing laws to restrict children’s education, undermine democracy, and ban transgender kids from school sports. These attacks are intertwined, and the path forward runs through engaging voters to demand fair and free elections, protect our democracy, and demand that elected officials represent them. Together, we will fight to fully realize the promise of freedom and equality for every person in this country.”

Alexis McGill Johnson, President & CEO, Planned Parenthood Action Fund:

“Young people are navigating a world with fewer rights than the generations before them. Attacks on freedom are taking many forms — whether it’s reproductive freedom, freedom to cast a vote, or even freedom to learn history as it happened. But with every challenge to our ability to live freely, and each dangerous attempt to control their bodies, lives, and futures, the people have shown their own resolve time and again. It is clear that the fight for reproductive freedom isn’t just a moment. Momentum continues to be on our side. Together — along with people and leaders at every level of government — Planned Parenthood Action Fund and our partners will fight to do everything in our power to protect and rebuild our rights.”

Laphonza Butler, President, EMILYs List:

“The fight for reproductive freedom today is about winning the dignity of tomorrow. Today, if we let Republicans pass laws that ensure women are less equal without accountability, we condemn future generations to less rights, less hope, less freedom, less humanity. The fight for our future is right now. We must fight for it today and every day moving forward.”

Dr. Serina Floyd, OB/GYN:

“As an abortion provider, I see first-hand the chaos, confusion, fear, and anxiety that these unrelenting attacks on our reproductive freedom cause. Judges, courts, and politicians have no business interfering in my ability — providers’ and support staffs’ ability – to do our jobs and serve our patients. Health care needs to be more accessible — not harder. This is an important moment – and I am so grateful to our leaders who are standing up to protect patients and the ability of providers and our teams to do this work.”