Pro-life Democrats assembled outside the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, to unveil a list of demands, arguing the party must more openly embrace pro-life voices under its progressive umbrella.
Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats for Life of America, an organization that exists to “defend Universal Human Rights within the Democratic Party,” expressed frustration during Tuesday’s press conference over the overwhelming silence her organization has reportedly received from DNC Chair Jaime Harrison.
Day specifically expressed her belief that the party must embrace pro-life adherents within its ranks if it wishes to live up to the diversity it pledges to embrace.
“Diversity and inclusion are the foundation of our party,” she said. “The chairman has not been true to those values with respect to pro-life voters and elected officials.”
But beyond that dynamic, Day also believes it’s important to take into account districts across the U.S. where issues like abortion are important to constituents and where Democrats need to work harder to not alienate voters.
“Local legislators have a good perspective on how to win in these areas,” she told The Washington Free Beacon. “[Harrison] is unwilling to listen, not even have a conversation. It’s pretty crazy.”
Human rights begin in the womb!! It’s time for our Nation to protect the right to life from womb to tomb. #OverturnRoeVWade #DobbsvJackson https://t.co/1YmERclRfc
— Kristen Day (@ProLifeDem) December 2, 2021
Day told The Christian Post that Harrison is the first DNC chair to not meet with the DFLA upon the organization requesting time, explaining that Tuesday’s press conference was an attempt to get the DNC’s attention and to deliver demands the pro-life group would like the Democratic Party to implement.
“We want a clear statement from him … with inclusive language for pro-life Democrats in the party, saying, ‘We are a big tent party. We include pro-life Democrats. We encourage pro-life Democrats to run. We will no longer discriminate against pro-life Democrats who want to run for office,'” she said.
Day requested a meeting with Harrison last month after Republican Glenn Youngkin defeated Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the Virginia gubernatorial race — a shocking defeat many attributed, in part, to the abortion debate.
She had previously requested time, to no avail.
“I first requested a meeting last March so Chairman Harrison could gain a better understanding of what motivates pro-life Democratic voters,” Day said in a Nov. 16 statement. “Pro-life Democrats who win in red and purple districts would be able to provide valuable insight to the new chairman. He has not responded to multiple requests.”
Some prominent Democrats in recent years have taken a firmer and more immovable stance on abortion, with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton proclaiming it is “sacrosanct.”
But studies show 26% of Democrats are pro-life, a notable fact in the midst of this complex political discussion. And with the U.S. Supreme Court poised to rule on the controversial Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization abortion case, the stakes could not be higher.
It’s unclear what will unfold from here, though it seems Day’s request for a “big-tent approach” will only intensify, with the press conference serving as the latest effort by DFLA members to make their voices heard.
Their letter to Harrison was successfully delivered to the DNC Tuesday.
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