Thread by @sfpelosi

We are going to have a frank talk about women’s rights, boycotts and big tents. The vast majority of Americans and the vast majority of Democrats support Roe v Wade and the autonomy and liberty of patents to choose the size and timing of their families. We must #StopTheBans. 1/

People are mobilizing on Tuesday May 21 to rally support for women’s rights and patients’ reproductive justice. (yes, trans and non-binary people can get pregnant too - be inclusive!) We must show support for patients and doctors criminalized under these extreme laws. Sign up! 2/

Sadly, one of our rallies must be in #Louisiana where a Democratic Governor pledged to sign a bill banning abortion rights even in the case of rape and incest. It’s awful and people should ask @LouisianaGov to give patients the same choice his wife had! 3/ cbsnews.com/news/democrati…

I’m as proud a Democrat as they come and respect the religious views of all, including members of my pro choice @CA_Dem Women’s Caucus who oppose me on abortion rights but reject the government’s role in that decision. We have both religious and personal liberty under #Roe. 4/

Again, most Americans agree that patients not politicians have the Constitutional right to make their own medical decisions. 5/kff.org/health-reform/…

What else should we do? Support the Affordable Care Act, #ProtectOurCare against Trump’s efforts to repeal it, #protectX from the gag rule, press your legislators to fund comprehensive birth control. 6/washingtonpost.com/politics/healt…

What about the boycotts? Many have asked me as Chair of the @CA_Dem Women’s Caucus to support a #Cadem19 revolution for a #CA travel ban to states that have passed abortion bans. Appreciate the spirit of solidarity. But. Respectfully, no. I’m not there yet. Why? 7/

I have long said blanket boycotts don’t achieve social justice and we must ask people in the states WHAT THEY WANT in targeted actions. twitter.com/share?text=Bla…

Arizona activists after SB 1070 did not want a blanket boycott but did want targeted actions. THAT was a fight! 8/

Georgia passed a draconian abortion access ban. When activists pushed for a ban, Stacey Abrams — who should be Governor — told us otherwise. I’m listening. 9/

https://twitter.com/staceyabrams/status/1128758760154062849?s=21

In #Alabama and #MS, black women activists leading the fights for reproductive justice have asked for donations to Yellowfund Sister Song Planned Parenthood SE and ARC-Southeast.

Activists in #MO and #Ohio asked for support for local community organizations NOT boycotts. 10/

For the most part the people on the ground in AL, AR, GA, KY, MO, MS, OH, and UT have said that the low income women and trans patients of color who most need their services are most disproportionately affected by a boycott.

So I’m deferring to them. Help them build power! 11/

And a last word to friends in blue state like #CA — we are not immune to a national overturn of #Roe. We talked about this for years, we know it’s at stake in 2019 and 2020, and we will MOBILIZE at #StopTheBans rallies and #cadem19. Join us!

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