Vice President Harris has ensured her long-standing commitment to protecting reproductive rights is a central theme at the Democratic National Convention (DNC), which opened in Chicago on Aug. 19.

On the first night of the convention, courageous women took to the stage and shared their personal, powerful and painful stories of pregnancy as a result of pre-teen rape and the devastation of miscarriages followed by having their lives legally threatened because they lived in states with stringent abortion laws (which also means there’s no stringent laws protecting women’s health).

Their stories are all a consequence of former President Donald Trump’s reversal of Roe v. Wade. They expressed hope that Harris’s unwavering commitment to protecting abortion rights would make a difference for women affected by the end of Roe.

She woke up like this

During her time as a Senator in California, Harris co-sponsored legislation aimed at preventing states from imposing restrictions on abortion. She also opposed, S.2311, a bill that sought to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. As vice president, she strongly criticized the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and has since emerged as the White House’s foremost defender of reproductive health rights.

Hadley Duvall, a sexual assault survivor, said she was blessed to have the option of abortion when she became pregnant after being raped by her stepfather at the age of 12, a right that no longer remains for those living in abortion banned states.

“I can’t imagine not having a choice,” Duvall told the teary-eyed crowd at Monday’s DNC rally, before praising Harris for her proposal to sign a sweeping national law that would restore Roe if she wins the presidential race.

After Duvall, Louisiana resident Kaitlyn Joshua took the stage to recount the traumatic miscarriage she endured during her second pregnancy. Due to stringent restrictions imposed by Louisiana’s abortion ban, Joshua was denied treatment when she became ill from the unexpected miscarriage, as doctors refused to provide care.

“No woman should have experienced what I have. Our daughters deserve better. America deserves better,” Joshua declared.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth gives emotional speech about IVF journey night 2

Calls for change echoed over into Tuesday night’s rally on Aug. 21, with Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who spoke openly about her struggles with fertility, a challenge that led to the birth of her daughters through in vitro fertilization (IVF), a medical procedure that helps individuals and couples conceive by fertilizing eggs outside the body.

Duckworth cautioned the crowd about a potential effort by the Republican Party to undermine alternative forms of maternal care, such as IVF, following a recent ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court. As reported by Politico, the ASC declared earlier this year that frozen embryos should be considered children, sparking a national debate over IVF and its ethics.

“My struggle with infertility was more painful than any wound I earned on the battlefield,” Duckworth said. “But now Trump’s anti-American crusade has put other Americans’ right to have their own families at risk. How dare the GOP endanger the dreams of countless veterans whose combat wounds prevent them from having kids without IVF.”

Harris’ efforts to restore Roe v. Wade and protecting reproductive rights would significantly impact millions of women globally who encounter obstacles to affordable, safe, and accessible reproductive care. This is especially true for Black women, who experience severe disparities not only in abortion access but also in broader reproductive health issues, including contraception and maternal healthcare. These challenges were exacerbated when Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, allowing states to individually regulate abortion access.

Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy than their white counterparts, according to the National Partnership For Women & Families. Historically, Black women face disproportionately higher rates of pregnancy complications, including conditions like hypertension, preeclampsia, and hemorrhage. They also experience the highest rate of cesarean sections, reaching 36% even in low-risk births. This disparity is largely attributed to medical coercion and systemic inequities within the healthcare system.

Abortion bans have significantly exacerbated the difficulties Black women face in accessing essential care.

Over 6.7 million Black women—57% of all Black women aged 15-49—live in the 26 states where abortion is banned or likely to be banned. This includes states with “trigger” bans, gestational limits on abortion, pending legal challenges, or significant legislative efforts to ban abortion.

In these states, more than 58% of Black women are already mothers, often serving as their family’s primary or sole breadwinner. This role underscores the critical importance of their economic stability, as access to abortion care directly affects their family’s financial security and their children’s well-being. Additionally, nearly 2.7 million Black women in these states face economic insecurity, defined as living below 200% of the federal poverty line. State abortion bans disproportionately impact these women, who are less likely to afford the costs of traveling to another state for abortion care.

As a woman, I deeply resonate with those who spoke at the DNC rally to support Harris’ efforts for reproductive equality. While I may not have faced the same personal heartbreak shared by some of the women on stage, and am fortunate to live in New York, where abortion rights are protected, the fight must continue for our sisters and women around the globe. Harris’ leadership could bring us closer to a world where everyone has access to safe, affordable healthcare without being penalized for seeking the treatment they need.

Harris’ message may already be resonating with some red states.

As reported by CBS News, in November, voters in Arizona and Montana, two red states, will have the opportunity to decide whether to enshrine the right to an abortion in their state constitutions. On Tuesday, the Arizona Supreme Court affirmed the validity of a 200-word summary used by abortion rights advocates to gather signatures for a ballot measure, ensuring the issue will appear on the ballot. Last week, the Arizona Secretary of State’s office confirmed that 577,971 signatures had been certified—well above the threshold needed to qualify the measure for the ballot.

Similarly, Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen announced on Tuesday that Montana’s constitutional initiative has also been certified for the November ballot. Both proposed measures would permit abortions up to the point of fetal viability, which is generally around 24 weeks, allowing for survival outside the womb.

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