EMILYs List Honors Black Maternal Health Week

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Black Maternal Health Week was started by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance in 2018. Designed to change policy and cultivate research into Black maternal mortality while advancing care for Black women, the week continues to call attention to the Black maternal health crisis. To honor the start of Black Maternal Health Week, EMILYs List President Jessica Mackler released the following statement:

“Black women face an unparalleled maternal mortality crisis that is too often overlooked in the halls of government. Black Maternal Health Week is a powerful reminder of inequities that have led to this crisis, and the need for action. This year, it comes at a time when access to reproductive health care is facing increasing attacks by Republicans. As their cruel anti-abortion laws continue to affect women of color disproportionately, it is crucial that we lift up the advocates who are fighting for Black mothers. Black Mamas Matter Alliance founded Black Maternal Health Week for this very reason and continues to center Black women in the fight for equitable reproductive care. 

“To so many, Black Maternal Health Week is not just a reminder of the work left to do — it is a chance to save lives. It is also a reminder of the power of representation. Electing Black Democratic pro-choice women at every level of government ensures we are represented by leaders who have the lived experience to push meaningful change. That includes leaders like U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, a registered nurse who has worked tirelessly to advocate for Black mothers as the co-founder of the Black Maternal Health Caucus and co-sponsor of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act. And Vice President Kamala Harris, who introduced the Momnibus Act in the U.S. Senate, and continues to work tirelessly to advocate for Black maternal health in the White House. At EMILYs List, we are committed to electing women who will uplift the voices that are too often silenced and work to change lives for the better.”

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.