Ingle attends White House summit on reproductive rights

State Rep. Keri Ingle (MHDC)

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — State Rep. Keri Ingle, D-Lee’s Summit, attended the White House State Legislative Convening on Reproductive Rights in Washington D.C. last Wednesday to discuss abortion access with White House senior officials and state lawmakers from across the nation.

Eighty-five state legislators from 41 states attended the convention over two days to discuss abortion rights and reproductive health access roughly one year after the Dobbs Supreme Court decision revoked the right to medical privacy for abortions.

Ingle and Missouri State Sen. Barbara Washingotn, D-Kansas City, met with 47 other legislators who hail from 25 states hostile to reproductive choice on strategies and means to revive the right to bodily autonomy.

“I found it so useful to meet with so many lawmakers who are passionate about fighting for reproductive freedom, if only to acknowledge that our struggle extends well beyond the Show-Me State,” Ingle said. “The only way we will reclaim our rights is through solidarity, and I’m thankful to the White House for bringing us all together to share ideas and strategies to protect the right to choose.”

In addition to panels that included insights from lawmakers on successful defenses of abortion rights in difficult states, also heard speeches from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Congressman Jim Clyburn of South Carolina spoke in the morning.

Later in the day, legislators also had a chance to speak and visit with Vice President Kamala Harris.