Note: Kamala Harris is speaking—again!—about abortion rights in approx. 15 minutes! (3:30 EST / 12:30 PST) I’ll be watching via PBS.
Happy Friday to all!
We’re sticking to our promise of anti-despair, hopelessness-busting stories that remind us of the power we have to change The Way Things Are, but for me it also feels important to name that some of the Things That Are are awful, like this week’s ProPublica report on two women who died because their state’s abortion ban made doctors afraid to treat them (via
, ).And it feels important to name that we must be flexing our might right now — because in 45 days, there will be an election, and its winner will either further endanger women’s lives or help us claw back our safety and dignity and autonomy.
- Carolyn
Read on for: An Episode 6 recap; links & extras; ways to take action 🗳️🇺🇸; my merch drop 😝
Episode 6: Meet Emma Donnelly
Remember the Purdue University students who were running a zippy, efficient entrepreneurship program that partnered with their Pharmacy school to put eight vending machines around campus, offering free or low-cost over-the-counter medical items, including emergency contraception? (That was Episode 5.) And they were a little surprised at their success because they live in a red state with an anti-abortion legislature?
Well, you might think that the students at the University of Southern Maine would have had an even easier time doing the same thing, being in a bluer state. You’d be wrong!
When Emma Donnelly proposed it to their administrators, they quickly learned that a sizable obstacle stood in their way: A dusty old law, intended to protect Mainers from snake-oil salesmen, prohibited the selling of “medicines” at carnivals and the like. The state legislature eventually added “vending machines” to the list.
College student Emma Donnelly wasn’t deterred. Emma knew her state representative from the local farmer’s market, sent a Facebook message, and the two got right to work on LD 37, legislation to allow nonprescription drugs to be sold by vending machine, just as they are sold in gas stations, convenience stores, and airport terminals.
In this episode, I include Emma’s testimony at the state capitol, as well as other clips from the public hearings. Some are interesting and moving, and others are a little dull (don’t worry, those are shorter clips) — I included them to blow away some of the smoky mystique of lawmaking and politics. They have to keep explaining the “raise hand” function on Zoom, just like the rest of us!
And I love hearing, at the end of the episode, about Emma’s experiences with “deep canvassing,” which is going door to door to talk to strangers, but not in support of any campaign. It’s just about connecting around values and sharing stories.
Things mentioned in Episode 6
Recent news:
About the Maine law & its change:
Rep. Mo Terry & Emma’s testimony: https://legislature.maine.gov/audio/#202?event=77108&startDate=2019-02-05T13:00:00-05:00
The actual new legislation (short and sweet!): https://legislature.maine.gov/backend/App/services/getDocument.aspx?documentId=65820
An article about Emma & Co. in 2019
Emma’s Work Making a Difference:
Plan B vending machine opens at Health Center – The Bowdoin Orient
Mi’kmaq Nation will install naloxone vending machine in Presque Isle - The County
Sheroes:
About Charlotte Ellertson: https://www.ibisreproductivehealth.org/our-founder-charlotte-ellertson
Ellertson Awards: https://www.americansocietyforec.org/awards
Felicia Stewart’s Obit: https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/0
Loretta Ross at USM and on the TED stage.
Fight for your rights
Choose your own adventure:
Join Our Bodies, Our Vote (MoveOn): https://campaigns.moveon.org/our-bodies-our-vote/
Write letters to voters with Vote Forward: https://votefwd.org/ (my fave activity!)
Focus on highly competitive races with SwingLeft: https://swingleft.org/take-action
Join your local Indivisible group: https://indivisible.org/groups
Find new actions served fresh daily from: Chop Wood, Carry Water
Make America Fun Again
I’ll never move as fast as the Twitterverse did, or even at the relatively slower speed of the 24-hour news cycle. But I was right there, part of the online fiesta, when Biden withdrew from the race and endorsed Kamala Harris, and we were all living in a brat and coconut tree music video.
My immediate reaction: Yes! Let’s make America fun again! Wouldn’t it be a dream to feel light on our feet and in our hearts? There’s no doubt that Donald’s found a lot of power in activating people rage … but doesn’t joy just … feel better?
So I did this: The Goods are Odd
It might help Get Out the Vote! It might make a friend laugh! It might provoke an angry glare in the grocery store!
But it will definitely be amazing memorabilia twenty years from now. Treat y’self.
I’ll post a pic of me in my crop top as soon as it’s delivered. 😘
Share this post