[inaudible conversations] good evening. i am a the co-owner of politics & prose thanks for coming. and with the new book life's work and their other

prominent voices of course is the subject of access of legal abortion and now all eyes are focused on the trump administration but i assure you of though that. but the panel will be moderated. holding and a degree of political science did with the advocacy.

but is the congress. and several groups were involved with gender matters and at the center for american progress. and later reacted to reproductive health. [applause] >> this says pac tonight. it at that intersection.

it with that environment we find ourselves. so sitting next to me is dr. parker. and is an advocate and abortion provider. by those services is an alabama of. and is constantly harassed and of moral authority of god. and then to make the choice and does that in the way that is because of his religion.

so do organizing grass-roots support with that representation in reproductive freedom. and that conversation around abortion and last but not least from the covenant baptist united church of christ and for 32 years they led the of the industry -- the ministry and to be inclusive ended january with other faiths leaders as a

lot of the new clinics in washington d.c.. [applause] >> so before we get started in this current political environment and with anti-choice are anti-women. and that we should recognize the moral right. so let's start with the theme. were a the threats against the of reproductive rights?. >>.

>> thanks for coming. so we have held them politics and religion as this drama plays out if i did not defer to those bands and then to push that back. >> it is great to be here with all of you. but i would be remiss and

those around this country for very long time. and betty anti-freedom but now there is fierce competition and that with that unfortunate competition and with that nationwide recognition with the most marginalized in society. so while backhand be frustrating that also offers

an opportunity because there is energy and potential but then to identify. as the first president ever to campaign. and then also to try to overturn roe v wade. and by the way. [inaudible]

so the courts? in with those executive orders. but it started with the executive to help u.s. services to assure contraception to women. so any employer to have any reason so that is the executive authority and then to happen under the radar

that is putting them in charge of the institution with health and human services as well as jeff sessions and also an incredibly hot styles senate and house and turning that into law but that is expanding those. [inaudible] this is not republican or democratic problem for perot

in whether or not he personally believed and he seemed paul ways to jettison. but that is just a failed political strategy. >>. >> have a do see that being different now over your career? and with these policies with that overreach >> but in terms of what is

happening. said that preemptively assures them but said in the b.c. so there is a lot happening. and then to show that pathway for word. because as a potential for

real trick is for racial and. and by the other side. and to clarify. but there really is not abortion if there was. the and then to support those families. in that fight is about control. so some of those bills that are introduced with the

boyfriend or husband or father is the rapist. >> so there is an opportunity in a rehab that conversation. >> this is just off of coming out at all cost. or that health care bill like maternity care or to be a part of health care so

this is about reproductive health services. the to talk about the world authority on abortion and. so if that is a moral argument for choice??. >> and the mitchell song came to mind with that version you don't believe god until it's gone. we will really miss until they're gone. not until they're older than 44 years old if you don't know what that's like and

that moral authority and as a christian for those positions of morality with the the to do with religion. so i joke given all that mr. f -- this jeff that christians can be moral. [laughter] because that is to have a sense of what is right and wrong. and the ethics.

and my personal moral ethics and with that in the craft have would we would provide into beatify rent in that it is or is it immoral for women to have the health care that they need and then to breach that duties and my duty to do good. and individually. so that means you cannot have a law that would

govern. so i say to make that moral case for choice in when it comes to this conversation and then to protect the lives in the even push back on the notion it is a horrible procedure if they make that argument if they can feel paid we have evidence the refutes that. in the push back on that on that claim that is dangerous but we have not made the case and making decisions about reproduction land to

make these decisions so part of that in that public space. in but that has done is left the big vacuum of reproductive rights that have been willing to fill that space but the only way to neutralize that because the matter what they think. so back to the encroachment on the public space to understand and critically dissect in that regard that

is why i am so elated. >> so how does this translate?. >> so we talk about when we take about so many of the women because they don't have access to care robust spiritual and fired rent --

and fired rand. because of the pressure. but it would be fabulous if you could make a choice. or even if given the choice they have no choice. >> sova think about this us reproductive justice and those issues and for one of those statements so freddy

other side issues it seems as though they're only talking about the light rather than what comes after birth. in with the planned parenthood of washington but the next sunday at our church we had people protesting outside of the church in real also

encounter them from the district of columbia. so with this current administration marriages increasing lack of civility and and honesty and integrity and with these people in positions of power are actually doing today and that race issue.

and rolling back the hands of time. whether you talk about civil rights are women's rights. [inaudible] but we see that in the senate and the house of representatives and then now we have that's with those three a bridges of government that love america

so much. and making america great again. [applause] >> here is the role for all activist and advocates for policy on these issues and a supporter of phase reproductive rights. so what are some of the strategies?.

>> was the of the things is to urge aside but in terms to rationally engaged my colleagues in then just to rid knowledge of the providers would encourage them to speak out. that there is no clandestine away. and the advocacy and the push pac in then would be

sympathetic and then to take the risk and then to be open about of work but then also tour empower those who see me politically. but what i've read is a rat telling them to register is a deposit -- democrat or republican but linked this to your political activity or inactivity it is since magic if you fail for those that our sensitive to your needs but then that makes it difficult and then link that

your political activity. so what we say it doesn't happen in a vacuum. [inaudible] talking about reproductive justice i did have one student. [inaudible]

so one woman brought in issues chay yew was pregnant with her - - cover as a rough four kids already but then finding out they never even talked about it before. so really being able to do so hard to is the of .8 but

that one decision for themselves. . .