Five Reproductive Freedom Leadership Council (RFLC) legislators (AL Rep. Merika Coleman, OH Rep. Stephanie Howse, FL Rep. Cindy Polo, AZ Rep....

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** Legislators Travel with SiX to El Salvador
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Five Reproductive Freedom Leadership Council (RFLC) legislators ([link removed]) (AL Rep. Merika Coleman, OH Rep. Stephanie Howse, FL Rep. Cindy Polo, AZ Rep. Raquel Terán, and GA Sen. Nikema Williams) traveled to El Salvador this week to see firsthand the harm full abortion bans cause. A record number of U.S. states aimed to ban abortion in 2019. While El Salvador serves as an example of the outcomes of outlawing abortion ([link removed]) , there are also examples in the U.S. of women being jailed ([link removed]) for pregnancy outcomes.


** November 20th is Latina Equal Pay Day
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It takes until November 20th of 2019 for Latinas to earn the same amount that white males made in 2018. Make your voice heard: we need equal pay! Thanks to organizations Justice for Migrant Women, LCLAA and Equal Pay Today, here is the social media toolkit ([link removed]) for all your posting needs. Join the social media storm 2pm ET on Wednesday, November 20.


** Elections Bring Progressive Wins
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The 2019 elections marked significant victories for progressive groups across the country, particularly in Virginia ([link removed]) and Kentucky ([link removed]) . Along with the major electoral victories for women ([link removed]) and LGBTQ ([link removed]) candidates, the election results signal broad support for progressive policies like gun violence prevention ([link removed]) ,
increased teacher pay ([link removed]) , and Medicaid expansion ([link removed]) . The high turnout of the 2019 special elections also indicates that turn out will be unusually high ([link removed]) in the 2020 general election.


** Supreme Court Signals Protections for Dreamers Are in Danger
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Conservative justices on the Supreme Court seem likely ([link removed]) to side with the Trump administration and shut down the DACA program, which grants temporary working status and protection from deportation to 700,000 young Dreamers. Despite diverse bipartisan ([link removed]) support, including from military organizations, religious organizations, states, businesses, and labor unions, conservatives on the court has expressed support for the Trump administration’s arguments against the law ([link removed]) . If the DACA program is terminated ([link removed]) , hundreds of thousands of immigrants, families, communities, and businesses will be impacted. State legislators can
advance policies to f ([link removed]) und legal aid for DACA recipients ([link removed]) and to prohibit local law enforcement and state agencies from cooperation with ICE, among other options.


** Suing to Save Democracy
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As the 2020 election approaches, progressive legislators and advocacy groups are teaming up across the country to combat state ([link removed]) voter ([link removed]) suppression ([link removed]) laws that target marginalized communities—including youth ([link removed]) , homeless ([link removed]) , LGBTQ ([link removed]) , ex-felon ([link removed]) , and minority
([link removed]) voters. Through a series ([link removed]) of lawsuits challenging the use of signature matching, ballot design that advantages Republicans, and restrictions on early and absentee voting, voting rights litigators are setting the stage early to protect access to the ballot in 2020. In light of recent suppression tactics like voter roll purges ([link removed]) , residency requirements ([link removed]) , and ID laws ([link removed]) , a coordinated approach to defend voting rights—in courtrooms, state houses, and in the streets—will be crucial over the next year.


** Just Days Left to Save Rodney Reed
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Seven states have executed 20 people this year. Last week, Georgia executed Ray Cromartie ([link removed]) even after courts denied appeals for DNA testing. Texas is scheduled to kill Rodney Reed ([link removed]) on Wednesday, November 20. More than two million people have signed a petition ([link removed]) to stay Reed's execution; 26 Texas state lawmakers ([link removed]) , Republicans and Democrats, have signed a letter urging Texas Governor Greg Abbott to stop the execution; and rallies ([link removed]) are planned across the country this weekend.


** Updates from El Salvador
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The RFLC delegation met with a diverse cross section of activists, politicians, theologians, sociologists, doctors, and women who have been incarcerated because of El Salvador's abortion ban. Follow the legislators' in-country reactions here ([link removed]) and stay tuned for more reflections and what each of us can do in our home states to make sure we end global and local bans on abortion.

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The State Innovation Exchange (SiX) is a national resource and strategy center that supports state legislators who seek to strengthen our democracy, fight for working families, defend civil rights and liberties, and protect the environment. We do this by providing training, emphasizing leadership development, amplifying legislators’ voices, and forging strategic alliances between our legislative network and grassroots movements.

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