30 Years of Fighting for Reproductive Rights: Cecile Richards | Hear Me Out

VICE News
5 Apr 202322:32

Summary

TLDRThe video transcript features an interview with Cecile Richards, former president of Planned Parenthood and co-founder of Super Majority, discussing her activism, political upbringing, and the organization's impact on women's healthcare. It highlights the challenges faced by women in accessing healthcare, the divisive nature of abortion rights in the U.S., and the importance of women's political involvement. Richards emphasizes the need for continued advocacy to ensure women's rights and the role of Super Majority in empowering women in politics.

Takeaways

  • πŸ“ž The speaker called her mother before a job interview at a significant healthcare organization, expressing doubt, but her mother encouraged her to seize the opportunity.
  • 🌟 The organization in question is a widely supported healthcare provider for women, despite being a focus of the Republican party and facing defunding threats.
  • πŸ‘©β€πŸ’Ό The speaker, Cecile Richards, comes from a politically active family in Texas, with parents involved in various social movements, which influenced her own path as an activist.
  • πŸŽ“ After graduating from Brown University, Cecile became a labor organizer and later joined Planned Parenthood in 2006, where she served as president for over a decade.
  • πŸ₯ Planned Parenthood, founded by Margaret Sanger in 1916, continues to provide healthcare and family planning services, despite controversies and opposition.
  • 🚫 The script highlights the ongoing political battles over reproductive rights in the U.S., with Cecile noting that defunding Planned Parenthood is unpopular due to its essential services.
  • 🌐 The U.S. stands out as politically divisive on the issue of abortion, with other developed countries having largely moved on from the debate and integrated abortion into basic healthcare.
  • πŸ’₯ The script discusses the risks faced by healthcare providers at abortion clinics, including bombings and arson attacks, emphasizing the serious nature of the issue.
  • πŸ€” Cecile reflects on the challenges of maintaining access to healthcare, including abortion, in the face of restrictive laws and a judiciary that may not support these rights.
  • πŸ”„ The speaker contemplates the future of reproductive rights, expressing concern over the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade and the impact it would have on women's safety and rights.
  • 🌈 Cecile and Amanda discuss the importance of empowering women and addressing systemic inequities, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic's disproportionate effects on women.

Q & A

  • What was the speaker's initial feeling about the job interview for the healthcare organization?

    -The speaker felt uncertain and doubtful about whether they could succeed in the job interview for what they considered the most important healthcare organization for women in the country.

  • How did the speaker's mother respond to their doubt about the job interview?

    -The speaker's mother was not sympathetic and instead encouraged them to 'get it together,' emphasizing the importance of the healthcare organization and the number of people who had signed up.

  • What is the speaker's view on the contentious nature of the healthcare organization they are discussing?

    -Contrary to the interviewer's assumption, the speaker believes that the organization is not contentious but is actually one of the most broadly supported organizations in the country due to the healthcare services it provides.

  • What is the speaker's perspective on the political stance of defunding Planned Parenthood?

    -The speaker thinks that defunding Planned Parenthood is very unpopular because many women view it as a place for affordable birth control and healthcare services rather than a political organization.

  • How does the speaker describe the diversity of women running for office in the U.S.?

    -The speaker expresses joy and excitement over the diversity of women running for office, noting that women of different backgrounds, appearances, and styles are now participating in politics.

  • What was the speaker's upbringing like in terms of political activism?

    -The speaker grew up in a politically active family in Texas, with parents involved in civil rights, farmworkers' rights, and the women's movement, which influenced their lifestyle and values.

  • What was the speaker's mother's role in politics before she became a household name?

    -The speaker's mother, Ann Richards, was a political figure who served as the governor of Texas, making her the last Democrat to hold that office.

  • How did the speaker's family dynamics influence their own political involvement?

    -The speaker's family was deeply involved in politics, with each member contributing in some way, whether through political work, teaching, or activism, which the speaker sees as a shared family value.

  • What was the speaker's reaction to the negative names and accusations they received during their time at Planned Parenthood?

    -The speaker did not seem phased by the accusations and focused more on the importance of the healthcare services provided by Planned Parenthood rather than the personal attacks.

  • What does the speaker believe would be the consequence if Roe v. Wade were to be overturned?

    -The speaker believes that if Roe v. Wade were overturned, women would die due to the return to illegal and unsafe abortions, which was the situation before the law was passed.

  • What is the mission of Super Majority, the advocacy group co-founded by the speaker?

    -Super Majority aims to mobilize women to get involved in politics and push politicians to further gender equity, focusing on the structural inequities in the U.S.

Outlines

00:00

πŸ˜” Doubts and Support Before a Pivotal Interview

The speaker reflects on a moment of self-doubt before a job interview at a significant healthcare organization for women. Despite the pressure and the competitive nature of the position, with 100 applicants signing up the previous day, the speaker's mother provides tough love and encouragement, emphasizing the importance of the opportunity. The conversation touches on the organization's broad support and challenges the misconception that it is contentious, highlighting its role in providing essential services like birth control and healthcare to women, beyond its political affiliations.

05:02

🌟 Embracing Diversity in Women's Activism and Leadership

Cecile Richards, an activist and former president of Planned Parenthood, discusses her journey from growing up in a politically active family in Texas to becoming a prominent voice for women's rights. She shares her experiences with her mother's influence and her family's dedication to activism, including involvement in the civil rights movement and other significant social issues. Richards also expresses her joy in seeing women from diverse backgrounds running for office and taking pleasure in their success, indicating a shift in the political landscape towards greater inclusivity and representation.

10:02

πŸš‘ The Vital Role of Planned Parenthood Amidst Controversy

This paragraph delves into Cecile Richards' tenure at Planned Parenthood, an organization that has been both celebrated for its healthcare services and targeted by political opponents. Despite the contentious nature of abortion services, which make up only four percent of the organization's services, Planned Parenthood remains a crucial provider of healthcare, including STI testing, cancer screenings, and hormone therapy. Richards addresses the misconceptions about the organization, emphasizing its broad support and the importance of its mission to provide healthcare to those in need, especially in light of attacks and political efforts to defund it.

15:03

πŸ›‘οΈ The Political Battle for Reproductive Rights in the US

The speaker examines the political divisiveness surrounding abortion in the United States, contrasting it with the approaches in other developed countries where abortion is more integrated into government-funded healthcare. The paragraph highlights the Republican party's use of abortion as a political wedge issue and the impact of this on access to healthcare, particularly for women. Richards discusses the personal nature of the issue and the importance of trusting women to make their own decisions, as well as the challenges faced by the pro-choice movement in the face of a conservative-leaning Supreme Court and restrictive state laws.

20:04

🌐 The Global and National Perspective on Abortion Rights

The paragraph explores the global context of abortion rights, noting that while many countries have moved on from the debate, it remains a central and divisive issue in the US. Richards attributes this to the Republican party's strategy and the politicization of what should be a personal decision. The discussion also covers the potential consequences of overturning Roe v. Wade, including the risk to women's health and lives, and the importance of continued advocacy for reproductive rights as a fundamental aspect of social justice.

πŸ›οΈ The Future of Women in Politics and Social Change

In this paragraph, the focus shifts to the future of women in politics, with Richards discussing her own experiences and the broader movement towards gender equity. She highlights the importance of women's political power and the potential for change that comes with more women in office. Richards also touches on the challenges faced by women during the pandemic, the need for systemic change, and the role of organizations like Super Majority in mobilizing women and advocating for policies that support gender equity and social justice.

Mindmap

Keywords

πŸ’‘Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood is a non-profit organization that provides reproductive health services, including birth control, cancer screenings, and abortion services. In the video, it is portrayed as a contentious organization due to its role in providing abortion services, yet it is also described as one of the most broadly supported organizations in the country. The script discusses the organization's importance for women's health and the political debates surrounding its funding.

πŸ’‘Healthcare

Healthcare refers to the organized provision of medical services to individuals or communities through various health professionals and allied health fields. In the video, healthcare is a central theme, particularly in the context of women's health services provided by Planned Parenthood. The script emphasizes the importance of accessible and affordable healthcare for women, including birth control and checkups.

πŸ’‘Abortion

Abortion is the medical or surgical termination of a pregnancy. It is a deeply contentious topic in the video, with Planned Parenthood being a focal point of the debate due to its provision of safe and legal abortions. The script highlights the organization's role in providing this service and the political efforts to defund it, reflecting the broader societal and political divisions on the issue.

πŸ’‘Activism

Activism refers to the policy of taking direct vigorous action to bring about political or social change. The video features Cecile Richards, who comes from a family of activists and has been involved in various social and political causes throughout her life. The script illustrates how activism is a driving force in her life and the lives of her family members, from civil rights to women's rights.

πŸ’‘Republican Party

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, often associated with conservative policies. In the video, the script discusses the party's stance on Planned Parenthood and abortion rights, indicating that opposition to the organization has become a form of dogma within the party, which has implications for the political landscape and policy debates.

πŸ’‘Controversy

Controversy refers to a state of prolonged public dispute or debate. The term is relevant in the video as it describes the ongoing debate and conflict surrounding Planned Parenthood and its services, particularly abortion. The script mentions the contentious nature of the organization and the political efforts to defund it, reflecting the deep divisions in society.

πŸ’‘Roe v. Wade

Roe v. Wade is a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court that established a woman's legal right to have an abortion. The video discusses the potential threat to this right, with the script mentioning that there are 18 abortion-related cases in the pipeline to the Supreme Court that could challenge this precedent, highlighting the ongoing legal battles over reproductive rights.

πŸ’‘Gender Equity

Gender equity refers to the fair treatment of people of all genders, specifically with the idea of promoting women's equality with men. In the video, Cecile Richards co-founds Super Majority, an advocacy group that aims to push politicians to further gender equity. The script emphasizes the importance of gender equity in politics and society, particularly in the context of women's rights and representation.

πŸ’‘Voter Suppression

Voter suppression refers to any action that prevents or discourages people from exercising their right to vote. The video mentions Cecile Richards' work in ending voter suppression, indicating her involvement in efforts to ensure fair and accessible voting processes, which is crucial for a functioning democracy.

πŸ’‘Pro-Choice Movement

The pro-choice movement advocates for the right of individuals to make decisions about their own reproductive health, including the choice to have an abortion. In the video, the script discusses the challenges faced by the movement, including restrictive abortion laws and the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade, which would have significant implications for reproductive rights in the United States.

πŸ’‘Women's Rights

Women's rights are the rights considered as culture-specific and are often denied to girls and women in various ways across the world. The video script discusses the broader context of women's rights, including reproductive rights and the political representation of women. It highlights the ongoing struggle for gender equity and the importance of activism in advancing these rights.

Highlights

Cecile Richards discusses her mother's influence and the importance of the job interview at Planned Parenthood, emphasizing the organization's crucial role in women's healthcare.

The transcript highlights the broad support for Planned Parenthood despite political contention, focusing on healthcare provision rather than politics.

Richards reflects on her upbringing in a politically active family in Texas, which shaped her path as an activist.

The interview delves into the founding of Planned Parenthood by Margaret Sanger and the organization's ongoing mission amidst controversy.

Cecile's personal experience of joining Planned Parenthood and the challenges faced due to its contentious nature in American politics.

The discussion on the actual services provided by Planned Parenthood, emphasizing that abortion is only a small part of the healthcare they offer.

Richards addresses the violent attacks on abortion clinics and the impact on frontline healthcare providers.

The comparison of abortion rights and healthcare in the U.S. versus other developed countries, highlighting the unique political divisiveness in the U.S.

Cecile's perspective on the Republican party's use of abortion as a political wedge issue and its evolution over time.

The potential consequences of defunding Planned Parenthood, including the loss of access to critical healthcare for millions.

Richards expresses her optimism for the support of women's healthcare rights in the U.S., despite political challenges.

The impact of restrictive abortion laws and the current legal challenges to Roe v. Wade, with potential threats to reproductive rights.

Cecile's insights on the need for continuous advocacy in the face of complacency around reproductive rights.

The potential repercussions if Roe v. Wade is overturned, including the risk to women's health and safety.

Richards discusses her future in activism and the importance of empowering the next generation of leaders.

The founding of Super Majority by Cecile Richards and its mission to mobilize women in politics and advocate for gender equity.

Amanda Brown Lierman's vision for Super Majority following Cecile Richards' departure, focusing on the impact of the pandemic on women.

The importance of centering the experiences of marginalized women in policy-making for a just recovery from the pandemic.

Cecile's commitment to social and economic justice for women, and her plans for future ventures in activism.

Transcripts

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foreign

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[Music]

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calling my mother when I was going for

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the job interview and I just said I just

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don't know I don't know if I can do this

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and she was just like get it together

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she doesn't sound like someone yeah

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really not sympathetic she said this is

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the most important Healthcare

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organization in the country for women of

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course you better try for this

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100 people signed up from yesterday

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that's fantastic very good well that's

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the ultimate sign of whether good

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intentions actually then you know

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produce produce results

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[Music]

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I mean given that it is such a

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contentious topic and it's such a

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contentious organization it's not a

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contentious organization in fact it's

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actually one of the most broadly

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supported organizations in the country

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but is the focus of it's a focus of the

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Republican party but honestly I actually

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think defunding Planned Parenthood is

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very unpopular because for a lot of

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women they don't think it's a political

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organization they think it's where they

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go to to get affordable birth control

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[Music]

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I love now that women of all stripes are

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running for office in the U.S

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women who look different who come from

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different places who dress differently

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and that women are taking joy in that

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success

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it's exciting

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[Applause]

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[Music]

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Cecile Richards is an activist

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Powerhouse from ending voter suppression

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to fighting for a woman's right to have

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an abortion Cecile is on the front lines

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demanding Justice

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but long before she became a progressive

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icon she grew up in a hotbed of American

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conservatism

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Texas

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thank you so much for sitting down with

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us but I did want to rewind a little bit

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you grew up in Texas in a great

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politically active family right I mean

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yes what was that like were you out

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protesting and marching when other kids

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were at the movies well it's funny now

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uh and of course Texas is a lot in the

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news now but I I grew up in Dallas Texas

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and my parents were liberals they were

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involved in the civil rights movement

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and the farmworks exactly every movement

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that came through town and then the

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women's movement or my mother just

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completely lost her mind that was so

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exciting and yeah I mean other families

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were bowling and we were doing a sorting

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Precinct lists you know for whatever

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campaign my parents were working on so

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it was really much more just like a way

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of life it was what our family did so

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with dinners just a discussion of what

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America was and what America should be

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actually dinners were mainly my father

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ranting and raving about whatever

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Injustice that he was uh he had a short

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fuse

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um still does my dad was a late lawyer

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my mother was a what do we call the

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housewife but she was involved in every

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campaign

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Cecile watched her mum and Richards take

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activism out of the kitchen and straight

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to the Capitol I know if the turnout is

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good and if the turnout is big in Texas

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I'm gonna win this election Richards

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worked her way up in government winning

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the Texas gubernatorial seat in 1990.

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she's the last Democrat to hold the

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office

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there was always just a sense that you

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were put on this Earth to make a

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difference was there ever a point where

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you rebelled against that or you were

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questioned kind of the politics that you

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were born into I mean I guess we all had

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our moments of rebellion but mine was

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never about politics I mean I I did and

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really still do so look up to my parents

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um for having charted that path

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essentially they raised me to be an

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activist and I always have been

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protesting the Vietnam War and after

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graduating from Brown University she

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became a labor organizer where she met

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her husband you have three children yes

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is it a given that you are all very

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politically involved it's a family

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affair absolutely in fact I I'll never

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forget when President Obama was elected

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my twins weren't old enough to vote but

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everyone had been door knocking and you

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know phone Banking and I guess you could

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kind of Mark our family's history by

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presidential elections that's quite

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significant because I feel like most

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families I mean you know it's there but

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it's very much in the in the background

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of things it's like it's like a bread

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and butter one daughter works in

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politics my son's a public school

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teacher but extremely politically

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involved and my daughter Hannah who

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lives in Africa now is an activist and

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maybe that is somewhat unique but it's

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something we we all share we're not here

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today to deny the far right their

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participation in politics cecile's

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career zigzagged across the country and

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causes she founded the Grassroots

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organization Texas Freedom Network as

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well as America votes an initiative to

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increase voter turnout for Democrats

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she also served as Nancy Pelosi's Deputy

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Chief of Staff

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but in 2006 Planned Parenthood came

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knocking turning Cecile into a household

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name

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you joined Planned Parenthood in 2006

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and served as the president there for

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over a decade so many people look to the

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organization as a Lifeline women who

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don't have insurance women who are

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students

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women who just need a trusted source of

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Health Care

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I remember calling my mother when I was

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going for the job interview and I just

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said I just don't know I don't know if I

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can do this and she was just like get it

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together it doesn't sound like someone

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get it together

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really not sympathetic she said this is

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the most important Healthcare

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organization in the country for women of

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course you gotta try for this

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roots of Planned Parenthood can be found

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in Brooklyn in 1916 Margaret Sanger

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opened the first birth control clinic

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bringing contraception to the masses

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she believed that women should be able

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to decide when and whether they have

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children so they can gain equity and she

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wanted to stop dangerous back alley

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abortions

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today Sanger is recognized as a hero for

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Reproductive Rights as well as a deeply

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flawed woman who supported eugenics

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but planned parenthood's mission of

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providing Healthcare and Family Planning

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for all women lives on in spite of its

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opponents

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agree with my parents

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given that it is such a contentious

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topic and it's such a contentious

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organization was there any hesitation in

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you joining

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all right well first I would just say

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it's not a contentious organization in

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fact it's actually one of the most

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broadly supported organizations in the

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country

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not because of Any Brilliance on my part

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or anyone else's but because we provide

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Health Care to folks and and that's the

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focus of you know the focus of the

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Republican party but honestly the reason

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I challenge you on this is because I

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actually think defunding Planned

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Parenthood is very unpopular because for

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a lot of women they don't think it's a

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political organization they think it's

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where they go to to get affordable birth

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control or their annual checkup we

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absolutely provide safe and legal

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abortion it's incredibly important

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and we do a lot of other health care as

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well

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from STI testing and cancer screening to

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hormone therapy and Pap smears Planned

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Parenthood says they provide 9.8 million

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Health Services each year operating at a

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more than 600 centers across the country

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according to the organization abortions

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make up four percent of those services

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but the pro-life movement sees Planned

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Parenthood as a dangerous baby killing

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machine

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senior officials of Planned Parenthood

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laughing over sips of wine bargaining

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over the sale of body parts of unborn

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children

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is it possible to take the politics out

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of abortion rights I hope so I mean it's

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not a political issue it is a personal

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issue and trusting women or pregnant

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people to make their own decisions more

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than you trust the government

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that is I think just a fundamental

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American value

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three women

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[Applause]

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the years Cecile was tasked with making

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all Health Services more accessible

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because that access to care included

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abortion she became the target of

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continued attacks

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during your time at Planned Parenthood

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you were called all sorts of names evil

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vast murderer baby butcher what have you

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I mean still I am you don't seem like

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someone who's particularly phased by

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those kind of accusations was there ever

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a point where you felt like you know

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your family or your safety was at risk

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I really never worried about myself I

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did worry about our doctors and our

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health care providers because really

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when you look at what happened and the

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kinds of attacks it was on the front

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line folks and that's a serious issue

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and that wait on me a lot

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this is what it looks like inside the

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Planned Parenthood clinic in Brainerd

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investigators have determined that some

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sort of fuel was used to ignite a fire

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here early Wednesday morning

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the decades since Roe v Wade passed

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there have been over 40 bombings and

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nearly 200 Arsenal attacks targeting

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abortion clinics across the U.S

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but in most developed countries abortion

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is now part of basic government-funded

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health care

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I mean I'm from the UK where you're

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probably going what are you guys what is

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your problem I mean kind of of course

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it's crazy I mean in the UK abortion is

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just not front and center exactly that

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debate is kind of it feels like it

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sailed a long time ago even Ireland

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ahead of us yeah I know most places I

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mean not most you know there's still no

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I'm not going on in Poland a lot going

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on in Latin America correct in parts of

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the rest of the world but a lot of the

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rest of the world has moved on and I'm

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wondering why is it that

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abortion debate is so fun and center and

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is so politically divisive in the US

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fundamentally because the Republican

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party has decided that it is an

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important political wedge issue that can

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help them attract

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a part of the electorate that can help

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them win elections I remember when there

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were republicans in Congress and in the

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United States Senate who supported

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abortion rights who supported Planned

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Parenthood but now it has become the

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dogma of the party that

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if you support that

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um you can't be elected I mean Donald

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Trump himself you know was a Planned

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Parenthood supporter Mitt Romney you

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know who ran against President Obama was

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a Planned Parenthood supporter

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this Dogma has provoked efforts to stop

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Planned Parenthood from receiving

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federal funds which if successful would

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deprive millions of women and men of

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access to critical care and when they

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vote to repeal and replace Obamacare we

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will finally defund Planned Parenthood

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you don't seem like someone who dwells

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on any negative elements of anything

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really you seem extremely worth it I

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don't want to seem like a martyr and I

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just want to make it really clear like

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that for every person that has come up

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and said something nasty there have been

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99 women who've come up to me and said

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thank you for Planned Parenthood I do

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think we tend to underestimate how much

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the fundamental ability of women to

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access their health care and make their

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own decisions how much support that has

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in the United States

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thank you

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every life is precious

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regardless of race or class including

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the lives of The Unborn children

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the battle over Reproductive Rights is

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heating up it's the ongoing saga of

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Republicans attacking Women's Health

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it's personal in this case it's very

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personal about decisions that women have

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to make about the size and timing of

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their families

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over 400 restrictive abortion laws have

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passed across states in the last 10

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years and 18 abortion related cases are

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now in the pipeline to the Supreme Court

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any one of them could threaten Roe v

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Wade the right for a pregnant woman to

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have an abortion

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can you understand why you know so many

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people who do believe in access to free

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and safe abortions are so disheartened

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at the moment and and so worried and

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depressed and feel like there is so much

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Gloom ahead of us of course it's hard to

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have a federal Judiciary that's now been

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completely stacked against us

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that is discouraging Roe is still the

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law of the land they say but I think in

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seven states now in the U.S there's only

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one abortion provider left so if you

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live in Rural America or if you live in

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a conservative State access can be

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incredibly limited ultimately we have to

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pass laws at the state level and at the

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Congressional level

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I think for a long long time the

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abortion rights movement relied on the

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the Supreme Court and that simply isn't

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possible anymore

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[Music]

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human rights people in certain states

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have been pretty successful at chipping

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away at various abortion rights

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depending on where in the country you

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are and obviously now the Supreme Court

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is very tipped towards the conservative

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Edge do you feel like there was anything

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that the pro-choice movement could have

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done differently or do you feel like

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there was any

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complacency around Roe v Wade being

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assumed that it was Secure and safe I

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think there was sort of a lack of

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complacency I just think it's like work

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that is never finished that's going to

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have to can continue

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um continue forever I mean to me the

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real problem is that something that is a

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constitutional right at least on paper

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depends on your ZIP code depends on your

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income

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it depends on what state you live in and

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that to me it means it's not really a

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right it's certainly not a right that's

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equally held by women and people in this

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country

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and what are the repercussions what

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happens if row is overturned I think

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what happens is

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um women will die I mean that's why Roe

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was passed in the first place I think

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people forget that it wasn't that

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abortion didn't exist before Roe versus

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way it was just illegal and unsafe

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I just hate to think that we're a

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country that would allow that to happen

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again and I I think we are better than

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that in this country but sure that that

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really hurts and we're all going to be

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paying for it for a long long time

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and not just the abortion rights

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movement I mean voting rights civil

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rights lgbtq rights we're all going to

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be in this together I mean obviously

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you've been so involved in politics so

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for so much of your life and I'm sure

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there'll be so many people who would

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love to see you run for office yourself

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and wonder and equally a lot of people

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who would hate to see that but I'm

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wondering whether you see that in your

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future at all

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you know I am I've learned now never to

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say never I've been an organizer and

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activist I've had such a I mean honestly

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blessed life and career of being always

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in the Forefront of social change and

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I'm happy doing that and I love seeing

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other women elected to office and I take

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great joy in that so you know who knows

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whether maybe so who knows where their

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future rolls but I remember when when

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Mom ran for governor and she was like a

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unicorn it was like this woman

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Progressive woman in Texas becoming

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Governor there was a certain way you had

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to be you had to have a certain

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hairstyle and you had to dress a certain

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way and all the things I love now that

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women of all stripes are running for

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office women who look different who come

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from different places who dress

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differently and that women are taking

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joy in that success women are now not

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only opening that door but then kicking

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it open for everyone else

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foreign

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it's exciting

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more and more women are breaking down

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barriers to elected office each year and

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Cecile has been one of the people

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working behind the scenes to make that

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happen in 2019 she co-founded super

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majority an advocacy group aimed at

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mobilizing women to get involved in

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politics while pushing politicians to

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further gender equity which is huge and

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which has been led by women of color and

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black women as we know so in 2019 you

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founded super majority which is a oh how

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do you describe it we kind of created it

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as a political home for women to help

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provide training and then of course

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activism and advocacy from the day we

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launched super majority we've just been

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overwhelmed with women from all walks of

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life this last election our main focus

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was on turning out women to vote and

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it's been explosive

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explain to people who you know might

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feel like we've come so far with gender

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equality in this country and across the

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world you know we don't need to talk

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about men's issues and women's issues we

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need to talk about people's issues well

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I mean the U.S we are so far behind uh

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meant most industrialized countries on

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almost everything that has to do with

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gender Equity yeah and I'm surprised in

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so many things like maternity leave it's

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like the second worst country in the

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world after Papua New Guinea it's seen

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as almost an individual failure the

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workforce was never built for women to

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participate uh and certainly not after

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they had kids and of course this

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pandemic has just exposed that in ways

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that that are unimaginable we spent 50

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billion dollars on bailing out the

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airline industry we've spent almost

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nothing on

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either bailing out or supporting the

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child care industry in the US I think

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we've had more than two million women

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leave the workforce and in large part it

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is not only that the economy is

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collapsing but because they don't have

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any way to take care of their families

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and take care of their kids so what if

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we actually you know flip the script and

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actually talked about the issues that

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prevent women from being part of the

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workforce we have a long way to go and I

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feel like this growing political power

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of women is going to give us an

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opportunity to do that

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in 2020 a historic number of women and

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women of color were elected to congress

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representing 40 of house Democrats and

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14 of House Republicans but that doesn't

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necessarily mean more Unity it does seem

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like the country at least from the

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outside perspective is becoming more and

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more divided I mean I'm wondering if

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you're worried that we're less able to

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kind of have those conversations and

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whether we're less likely to listen to

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the other sides of those arguments so I

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think we always have to be talking to

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people not in partisan political terms

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or labels but actually about folks lived

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experience and I do think it means we

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have to continue to be in conversation

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with people

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at literally at the Grassroots level

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um and do you worry that those

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conversations are happening in their own

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kind of silos and their own Echo

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Chambers I think it's an enormous

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problem

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it's one of the reasons that I believe

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that women talking to other women and

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becoming trusted sources of information

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for each other is so critical because if

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women across race an issue and

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experience began voting together we

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could change politics in this country

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for the next Century for Cecile the work

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isn't about running the show it's about

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empowering the next generation of

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leaders

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in December 2020 Cecile announced that

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she'd be stepping down from her position

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in super majority to make way for her

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successor Amanda Brown lierman I got on

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a zoom call to talk about this shift hi

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guys Amanda nice to meet you very nice

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to meet you too

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um so still it seems like a lot has

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changed since I last saw you this

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transition has been in the works for a

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long long time it's exciting actually so

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what what's happened talk us through it

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I guess this has sort of been my um

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part of my sort of organizing Philosophy

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for my entire life which is to try to

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build things and leave them to

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um the next leader and so I'm excited to

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be able to do that at Super majority so

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this has always been in the work

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Samantha you always um you always knew

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that you were going to take on this role

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I feel like I've been preparing for this

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role for most of my life actually and so

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um in many ways uh it's a great honor to

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to be able to jump in to do this work

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that I'm excited to help write the next

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chapter of the super majority story and

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just in terms of what that practically

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means I mean we're still in the depths

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of this horrific pandemic that we've

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seen sweeping across the country or

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across the world

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um a pandemic that we know has

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disproportionately impacted women I mean

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what are the next steps what are your

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priorities in terms of handling that and

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helping women get through it

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um I I stay up at night thinking about

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even the single bombs who you know have

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lost their jobs and are struggling just

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to feed their kids kids dinner that's a

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reality for so many too many American

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women right now and so the work that we

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have to do is make sure that we're

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continuing to elevate the issues of

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particularly marginalized women in our

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country

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so so anything to add to that we started

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super majority understanding that there

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were structural inequity in the U.S and

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now the opportunity I believe is to

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demand of our government that they

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actually Center those experiences

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because there is no recovery if women

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don't recover and so so I know that you

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said you're going to be staying on but

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does it mean that you're going to be

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taking on other Ventures as well oh yeah

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I am a perpetual motion person and I

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don't know exactly what form it will

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take but my entire life has been

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committed to

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um social justice and economic Justice

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particularly for women and so I'm not

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stopping this is about the long-term

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systemic change we need in the U.S and

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that's going to take all of us

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thank you

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[Music]

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foreign

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[Music]

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Related Tags
Women's HealthActivismPlanned ParenthoodAbortion RightsCecile RichardsHealthcare AccessPolitical DivideGender EquitySocial JusticeVoter Suppression