McAllen Community Members and Abortion Providers Rally to Protect Abortion Access Press ReleaseWashingtonRaeAnn Roca Pickett, Senior Director of Communications & Public Affairs Phone: 202 621 1409 Email: raeann@latinainstitute.org Event Will Lift Up the Disproportionate Impact of Clinic Closures on Latinas and Others in Rural Communities McAllen, TX – (February 8, 2016) – On Wednesday, February 10th, reproductive health, rights, and justice advocacy groups, providers and community members in McAllen, Texas will rally together to show their support for protecting access to safe abortion care. In just a few weeks, the Supreme Court will review a challenge to Texas’ abortion clinic shutdown in the case Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt. Following the passage of HB2 in 2013, 2.5 million Latin@s of reproductive age in Texas now face increased barriers accessing abortion services. The shortage of healthcare facilities in predominantly Latin@ communities coupled with the challenges associated with traveling great distances for care, including expenses and the lack of availability of public transportation, are limiting the human rights of the Texas Latin@ population. The rally, which is part of a statewide Truth Tour focused on educating communities about the harmful impacts of HB2, will feature remarks from community leaders and providers. Immediately following the rally, attendees will show their support for abortion providers by marching from Archer Park to the Whole Woman's Health clinic of McAllen, the only independent abortion clinic within 200 miles for the women living in the Rio Grande Valley region. WHO: Confirmed speakers include: Amy Hagstrom Miller, CEO and President, Whole Woman’s Health Kristeena Banda, Clinic Administrator, Whole Woman’s Health of McAllen Lucy Felix, Texas Latina Advocacy Network, Senior Field Coordinator, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health Ruben Garza, Texas Freedom Network, Texas Regional Field Organizer Renee Rivas, Texas Freedom Network, Texas Student Leader Maria Cordero, ACLU Texas, Organizer Sadie Hernandez, Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, Campus Organizer Sofia Pena, South Texans for Reproductive Justice WHAT: Fight Back Texas Truth Tour WHERE: Event Start: Archer Park; 101 N Broadway St, McAllen, Texas 78501 Event Conclusion: Whole Woman's Health of McAllen; 802 S Main St, McAllen, TX 78501 WHEN: Rally to start at 2pm CST in Archer Park. At around 3pm participants will march to the Whole Woman’s Health clinic of McAllen. ### The Truth Tour is organized by numerous reproductive rights groups including: ACLU of Texas, Center for Reproductive Rights, NARAL Pro-Choice Texas, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, Progress Texas, Shift, Texas Freedom Network, and Whole Woman’s Health.
