Reproductive rights are on the ballot this November – for local, statewide, and federal races – so Social Justice Indivisible organized an event to discuss what exactly is at stake.
Democratic congressional candidate Ashley Ehasz will join a panel of experts and advocates for a “Women’s Reproductive Rights Forum” in Newtown on Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. The panel will discuss issues surrounding women’s reproductive health, which has been increasingly under attack since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Topics will include the medical, legal, and emotional aspects of women’s reproductive rights.
Ehasz, who is challenging anti-choice Republican incumbent Brian Fitzpatrick to represent Pennsylvania’s First Congressional District, will share her story as a U.S. Army veteran and her experience with reproductive healthcare for women in the military. Other panelists include:
– Kathryn Kolbert, a public interest attorney who argued to uphold Roe v. Wade in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, will speak to the legal issues facing women.
– Leah Greenberg, co-founder of Indivisible, will discuss the organization’s action plans to protect women’s reproductive rights.
– Dr. Jess Klemens, OB/GYN, will speak about the medical implications since the reversal of Roe v. Wade.
– Tara Murtha, communications director at the Women’s Law Project, will talk about her work to expose deceptive “crisis pregnancy centers.
– Dr. Anusha Viswanathan, a local pediatric and infectious disease doctor, will share her own personal story of a difficult healthcare decision.
– Liz Lee, a member of the Social Justice Indivisible chapter, will be moderating the forum.
Danette Richards, a member of Social Justice Indivisible, said the group formed during the Trump presidency. The group has grown to approximately 500 members since it was founded by Ellen Stevenson.
“We have come together with our shared anxiety about the kinds of things that have happened and are happening to women and also to just democracy as a whole,” Richards said.
Indivisible expects almost 200 people to attend the event and hear about reproductive healthcare issues. Ehasz and the panel will also discuss her opponent Fitzpatrick’s long record opposing reproductive healthcare and freedom.
READ: Don’t let him fool you, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick is anti-choice
Fitzpatrick has voted against the Women’s Health Protection Act twice, voted to repeal parts of the Affordable Care Act related to reproductive health, and voted for other anti-choice legislation.
“We thought about how we can really help locally to really, you know, help elections locally,” Richards said. “And we are very, very much aware of Brian Fitzpatrick and his deplorable record of supporting women’s rights.”
Richards said the forum will provide people with more in-depth information about reproductive health issues and mobilize people to take action.
“You’ve had people that maybe know some of it, know a little bit more, and people that don’t know enough to learn something so that they get themselves to the polls and they vote,” Richards said. “Because never in, I think the history of this country, has your voting mattered more, right?”
More information about the panelists and the event can be found on the event’s flier. Attendees can scan the QR code on the flier to register and receive more information about how to attend the event.
