NextGen America Launches New Campaign in Response to Failure of Women’s Health Protection Act
Youth voting organization encourages young people to take action to protect abortion rights
Austin, TX — On Wednesday, NextGen America announced a new campaign to raise awareness for abortion rights and propel young voters to the polls in the 2022 elections. The effort follows the U.S. Senate’s failure to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2022, which would have protected abortion rights by superseding abortion bans and restrictions passed by states.
Action to preserve abortion rights and resist legal restrictions to the procedure has become more urgent following the release of a draft opinion showing the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade. NextGen’s research shows that protecting legal access to abortion is one of the leading motivators for young people to turn out and vote.
Throughout the campaign, NextGen will provide young people with educational information and highlight calls to action that protect and promote reproductive rights. Efforts include encouraging young voters to donate to local abortion clinics, contacting state lawmakers, promoting volunteer opportunities and sharing information on local protests. NextGen is also partnering with influencers on Instagram and TikTok to post educational information and encourage followers to take action in support of abortion rights.
“We cannot accept the Senate’s failure to protect the health and rights of millions of women. The right-wing Supreme Court is perhaps just weeks away from overturning Roe v. Wade, unleashing a flood of anti-choice laws across the country,” NextGen America President Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez said. “As they have before, younger Americans are ready to turn out in 2022 to resist Republicans’ extreme agenda and rollback on our rights.”
“First the Supreme Court dismantled the Voting Rights Act. Now, they’re working to take away our reproductive rights. It will not stop there. If Republicans regain control of Congress, gay marriage, access to contraceptives and countless other civil liberties gained in recent decades are under attack. Young people cannot depend on older generations and unaccountable institutions to protect our rights. We will speak up, organize and, above all, vote in 2022.”
Last week, NextGen responded to the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade opinion leak by creating issue education videos on TikTok, mobilizing young people to write their Senators and ask that they pass the Women’s Health Protection Act and partnering with creators on content that informed followers on the leaked draft.
About NextGen America
NextGen America is the leading national organization for engaging young people through voter education, registration and mobilization. We invite 18-to-35 year olds — the largest and most diverse generation in American history — into our democracy to ensure our government works for them and to find new solutions to the dire challenges facing our society and the world. Since 2013, NextGen America has registered more than 1.4 million young voters and educated many millions more.