Dawn Euer
“With the most radically anti-women’s health President and Congress in memory running Washington, it is more important than ever for Rhode Island to ensure that abortion remains safe and legal. Dawn Euer is a strong, passionate voice for reproductive freedom and is exactly the type of leader these times demand,” said Amy Black, Chair of Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island PAC (PPV!RI PAC), announcing the group’s endorsement of Euer in the Democratic primary for RI State Senate District 13.
Black noted Euer’s work as an attorney, her leadership with civil rights organizations such as Marriage Equality Rhode Island and her position as chair of the Newport and South County chapter of the RI National Organization for Women. Also noted was Euer’s environmental work, including being a founding Board member of the Environmental Justice League of RI and current board chair of Bike Newport.
“Dawn Euer is a champion of reproductive rights. Her leadership and voice is needed at the State House,” said Craig O’Connor, Treasurer for PPV!RI PAC. “There is an urgent need in Rhode Island to protect access to abortion. If the US Supreme Court ever reverses Roe v Wade, and abortion rights are brought back to the states, a person’s right to choose in our state would be at risk.”
The press release from PPV!RI PAC notes that last year, “NARAL Pro-Choice America gave Rhode Island an F rating on its annual women’s reproductive rights report card – the same grade as Texas, South Carolina and Oklahoma. The RI House and Senate were labeled ‘anti-choice’ by NARAL. Additionally, the Rhode Island State Constitution says, in Section 2 (equal protection and due process) that ‘Nothing in this section shall be construed to grant or secure any right relating to abortion or the funding thereof.’
“Recent polling from the PEW Research Center shows that Rhode Island residents support keeping abortion safe and legal by a 2-to-1 margin. SB 274 – The Reproductive Health Care Act, introduced in the Senate by State Senator Gayle Goldin (Democrat, District 3, Providence), would explicitly legalize abortion in the state in the event of future action by the U.S. Supreme Court that might overturn Roe v. Wade. According to The Guttmacher Institute, Rhode Island is the only New England state to be labeled as ‘hostile’ to abortion rights.”
The Democratic primary will be held July 18, 2017. The special election will be held August 22, 2017.