EMILYs List Commemorates the Start of Black Maternal Health Week

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – EMILYs List President Laphonza Butler released the following statement celebrating the start of Black Maternal Health Week:
 
“Black women experience maternal mortality at a rate higher than any other group – a fact that was rarely addressed by the government until Black women leaders raised their voices in office. When coupled with Republican attacks on reproductive health care that disproportionately affect women of color, it has never been more important to take action to ensure Black mothers feel safe and supported throughout their birthing experience. Black Mamas Matter Alliance founded Black Maternal Health Week to fill that gap and center the voices of Black women in the fight for reproductive health equity. 

At EMILYs List, we are grateful for the Black women leaders whose presence in office ensures that this issue is finally being addressed. We also remain committed to increasing representation in all levels of government, because when women run, they do so with the collective power and support of their community. And when in office, they change the world.”
 
EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, works to elect Democratic pro-choice women up and down the ballot and across the country with a goal of fighting for our rights and our communities. Our work is centered around a fundamental vision: Run. Win. Change the World. EMILYs List has raised $850 million in service to that vision and has helped Democratic women win competitive elections by recruiting and training candidates, supporting and helping build strong campaigns, researching the issues that impact women and families, running one of the largest independent expenditure operations for Democrats, and turning out women voters to the polls. Since our founding in 1985, we have helped elect the country’s first woman as vice president, 175 women to the House, 26 to the Senate, 20 governors, and over 1,500 women to state and local office. More than 40% of the candidates EMILYs List has helped elect to Congress have been women of color. Visit www.emilyslist.org for more information.