232 Comments

Excellent testimony Jessica! I hope that there were Republicans in the room while you made these remarks.

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Jessica, I thank you so much for all your kindness, advocacy, hard work on behalf of women everywhere. Honestly, your testimony brings me to tears. Your efforts on behalf of all women, and the men who share our cause, are so appreciated.

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Beautifully said, for all of us.

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Thank you so much for your incredible bravery in leading this fight. In 1976, I attended a conference while visibly pregnant, and volunteered to sign a pro-choice petition. I was told, "I'm surprised you are signing the petition." My reply? "I CHOOSE to have this baby, and it would have also been MY CHOICE to terminate the pregnancy! " And I feel the same way today.

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From walking uteruses.....to walking coffins.

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Jessica! Finally had time to watch this moving and brave testimony. Boundless gratitude for your voice and grace on behalf of all of us and future generations of women. Respect ✊🏻 🙏🏻❤️

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You make an excellent point that Republicans had 50 years to figure out their laws would kill women, they knew, and they strategized for it - what concerns me is they had to know this would be unpopular. They lost the ballot measure in Kansas, and now boldly plan to ignore the ballot measure and pass a statewide ban anyway, the same can be said of Ohio lawmakers - they seem to have absolutely no fear of the voting public. And that scares the absolute hell of out me because I have to ask myself, "Why?"; why don't they fear the voting public?

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They do not fear the voting public because they have gerrymandered their state so badly that they can win elections regardless of who the voters vote for.

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There are plenty of elections of consequence that are unaffected by gerrymandering. Statewide races for the US Senate, Governor, even the Presidential. The state Supreme Court races have become incredibly crucial post-Roe because the make-up of an individual state's Supreme Court is going to largely determine the constitutionality of any state abortion laws that are passed, not to mention that the state Supreme Courts rule on cases involving voting maps and gerrymandering.

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Your remarks were thoughtful and articulate and deeply moving. The whole panel was stellar. And my favorite part . . . Dr. Dennard casually nursing her baby as she replied to questions posed by the Senators. Truly, we do it all.

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I loved your prepared remarks, especially when you said " my 13 year old daughter is in the room, and it’s her first time in Washington. Yet somehow, she’s here with less rights than I had thirty two years ago. And I think we should be ashamed of that". You inspire me everyday!

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This is what the abortion rights movement has needed for a long time; a voice that is unafraid to tell the whole truth and lay the facts bare, instead of tiptoeing around the politics and conceding ground.

This is excellent, just absolutely flawless. Well done Jessica, and thank you for so eloquently and intelligently conveying this message to the people in Washington. I know you’re not in this for the glory, but you are making a difference and influencing people every day with your work. Thank you again.

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Because you have!

Did you not love Senator Shumer quoting MLK!

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Jan 18Liked by Jessica Valenti

Wow. Thank you for your brilliant testimony--in Washington and every day with us. I am so grateful for the work you do and the community you have brought together.

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author

🙏

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Jan 18Liked by Jessica Valenti

The GOP are afraid... McEnany wants them to show compassion. Yeah, that will do the trick (No).

https://twitter.com/BidenHQ/status/1747696102592131347

"Former Trump WH Press Secretary McEnany: Vice President Harris’ appearance on The View was powerful for young people and young women. The GOP has lost every single abortion ballot initiative post-Roe"

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Right - show compassion as we subjugate women.....

Hair on fire!

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Jan 18Liked by Jessica Valenti

Thank you for your incredible testimony and speaking truth to power. Across the world, we are seeing both an expansion of women’s reproductive rights but also a contraction in some autocratic countries. If we don’t continue to fight, to advocate and VOTE LIKE OUR RIGHTS DEPEND ON IT, women being treated like livestock will truly be our reality.

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Jan 18Liked by Jessica Valenti

Thank you so much. This gives me strength.

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author

❤️

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Jan 18·edited Jan 18Liked by Jessica Valenti

You really were wonderful today. Everything you said was true. I have both Roman Catholic and Evangelical relatives who hold the positions you describe. They are immovable in

their determination to establish their beliefs into a national, total abortion ban. They will never change. We must protect our daughters and granddaughters by defeating religious extremists at the ballot box.

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I have those relatives too, my friend. Perhaps we all do. The good news is that there are more of us - people who understand that women, like men, are sovereign over their bodies and all issue therein.

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