In Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization (2022), the Supreme Court eliminated the federal right to abortion, directing states to pick up the issue if they so desired. In "leaving it to the states," Dobbs generated nearly twenty ballot initiatives in just two years, both to enshrine abortion rights and to negate them. Reproductive rights advocates prevailed in 7 of 10 initiatives last November, and prior to that had won 7 straight initiative elections.
Join the Solomon Center in conversation with three reproductive rights advocates with direct experience in these initiatives. Our panelists will discuss their work on these campaigns, strategy, coalition building, the interplay of state and federal politics, and looking forward on the continued viability of direct democracy as a response to Dobbs.
- Sarah Standiford — National Campaign Director, Planned Parenthood Federation of America
- Pamela Merritt — Executive Director, Medical Students for Choice
- Sarah Parker — Executive Director, Voices of Florida
- Moderated by Genevieve Scott — Reproductive Rights and Justice Project's Co-Director and Information Society Project's Democracy Initiative Senior Fellow
Sponsoring Organization(s)
Solomon Center
YHeLPS
ACS
YLW+
If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice
YLDems