Planned Parenthood Statement on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
For Immediate Release: Jan. 15, 2018
NEW YORK ― Planned Parenthood Federation of America released the following statement honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his commitment to ensuring justice and equity, as well as his fundamental belief in opportunity for all people, including access to health care.
Statement from Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
“Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a visionary leader who challenged our country to live up to its professed ideals, and his legacy continues. It is marked by the progress we’ve made and embodied by those who fight every day to realize the America he envisioned. As we head into the holiday to honor Dr. King’s work, we will continue to carry his faith in the ‘beloved community’ and the ‘fierce urgency of now.’
“Dr. King believed that access to health care was a fundamental right for all people, and Planned Parenthood agrees, particularly at a time when many of our fundamental rights are under attack. We cannot ignore that health care inequity is linked to poverty, racism, sexism, discrimination, and lack of access in all of its forms. And these structural inequities can only be changed through collective action.
“We are proud to stand alongside racial, economic and social justice partners to build the world King dreamed about. Today, and everyday.”
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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood affiliates serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.