• Press Release

EMILYs List Statement on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 21, 2020

For Immediate Release
January 20, 2020

EMILYs List Statement on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, released the following statement in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day:

“Today, while we reflect on the legacy of Dr. King, we also strive for ways to continue in his stead. As we build on his commitment to equality and justice, we know the stakes couldn’t be higher this year.”

“Witnessing a president who consistently attacks women and communities of color — while states emboldened by the bigotry of his administration work to suppress the right to vote and criminalize marginalized communities — only reinforces the need for diverse voices in the halls of power. We know that EMILYs List women, both candidates and elected officials, will continue to fight for the values of justice and equality that Dr. King held dear. Unfortunately, this fight is far from over, but with pro-choice women of color in office, progress will be made.”

EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, has raised over $600 million to elect pro-choice Democratic women candidates. With a grassroots community of over five million members, EMILY's List helps Democratic women win competitive campaigns – across the country and up and down the ballot – by recruiting and training candidates, supporting strong campaigns, researching the issues that impact women and families, and turning out women voters to the polls. Since our founding in 1985, we have helped elect 150 women to the House, 26 to the Senate, 16 governors, and nearly 1,100 women to state and local office. Nearly 40 percent of the candidates EMILYs List has helped elect to Congress have been women of color. During the historic 2017-2018 cycle, EMILYs List raised a record-breaking $110 million and launched a record independent expenditure campaign. We helped elect 34 new women to the House, including 24 red-to-blue victories; enough seats to have delivered the U.S. House majority alone. Since the 2016 election, more than 50,000 women have reached out to EMILY's List about running for office laying the groundwork for the next decade of candidates for local, state and national offices.