PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER NEW YORK ACTION FUND GALVANIZED STATEWIDE SUPPORT FOR THE NEW YORK EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT THROUGH A WEEKEND OF ACTION 

New York, NY– Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Action Fund (PPGNYAF) hosted a Weekend of Action from July 12 to July 14 to galvanize voters throughout the state to vote yes on the New York Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in November, as well as provide education on the ballot measure. This initiative was part of a larger state-wide action organized by New Yorkers for Equal Rights. In an impressive showing of support, 60 PPGNYAF canvassing leaders coordinated canvassing events across several regions of New York State resulting in more than 1,435 people engaged – with eleven volunteer-led events in New York City, Newburgh, Beacon, Saratoga Springs, Johnstown, Ithaca, and Trumansburg. To access photos from events, please visit this link.   

Background: The ERA is an amendment to New York’s State Constitution that adds protections for people who experience discrimination based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex--including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes, reproductive health care, and autonomy. By codifying pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes into our state’s constitution, the ERA will protect against any government actions that would curtail a person’s reproductive autonomy or their access to reproductive health care, including abortion bans and Medicaid restrictions. 

Statement by Dipal A. Shah, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Action Fund: 

New Yorkers deserve the freedom to control our own bodies, lives, and futures. Unfortunately, across the country, politicians are restricting people’s rights and freedoms, including the right to abortion. Even here in New York State our protections fall woefully short. That’s why Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Action Fund will be canvassing and knocking on doors with our statewide supporters and volunteers on the weekend of July 12th. We’ll raise awareness about the Equal Rights Amendment ahead of the November elections. 

Here in New York, it’s critical that we — the voters — vote YES on the New York Equal Rights Amendment to ensure no New Yorker can be discriminated against by the government, and that our reproductive freedom is enshrined in law. By embedding the ERA into our state’s constitution, we could set the stage for the national fight to guarantee abortion rights nationwide and build a far more equitable society for all New Yorkers.

About Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Action Fund 

Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Action Fund is the advocacy arm of PPGNY. The Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Action Fund engages in educational and electoral activity, including issue advocacy, voter education, and grassroots organizing to promote Planned Parenthood's mission. The Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Action Fund is a non-partisan, non-profit organization affiliated with Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.