FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ryan MacDonald, ryan@prochoicewashington.org or Sarah Muir, sarahm@cedarriverclinics.org
Seattle – The Northwest Abortion and Gender Justice Coalition, an organization of abortion providers, abortion seekers, and community groups throughout the Northwest, is excited to announce that the “Dear Abortion Seekers, You Are Welcome Here” campaign has won a Third Annual Anthem Award in the Human & Civil Rights category for advocacy based campaigns.
In conjunction with The Webby Awards, the Anthem Awards honor the purpose and mission-driven work of people, companies, and organizations worldwide.
“Dear Abortion Seekers, You Are Welcome Here” campaign launched in the fall of 2022 with roadside billboards, social media and radio advertisements, wheat posting signage, and a newsletter to welcome abortion seekers to Washington state with compassionate messaging and language.
Since the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn our federal right to access abortion care, Idaho and 23 other states enacted abortion bans or restrictions that put patients and providers at risk.
This campaign to change the future of abortion was born out of our coalition’s shared mission that abortion seekers and their providers should feel safe when seeking or providing care in Washington state. The laws in our neighboring states are dangerous to people’s health and try to criminalize abortion providers for taking care of people. We believe in combating these laws through compassion and understanding.
Mercedes Sanchez, Executive Director of Cedar River Clinics, released the following statement on behalf of the Northwest Abortion and Gender Justice Coalition:
“We are honored that the Anthem Award recognized our campaign in the Human & Civil Rights Category. This acknowledgment helps fight stigma and highlights Washington’s role as an abortion haven. Abortion is a fundamental human right. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this campaign and to our coalition partners, advocates, legislative champions, and supporters for their unwavering commitment to protect our reproductive rights and abortion care. ”
Sami Alloy, Interim Executive Director of Pro-Choice Washington, released the following statement:
“We’re so excited this campaign has been recognized by the Anthem Awards. Abortion is essential life-saving health care and the Future of Abortion campaign is all about removing the stigma that creates barriers to accessing that care. Pro-Choice Washington and our partner organizations are doing this work every day with patients and providers, and this award is validating that effort!”
Since becoming an independent organization in October 2021, Pro-Choice Washington has been at the forefront of the reproductive freedom landscape. It has helped to expand and protect abortion access across Washington state. Pro-Choice Washington is the only advocacy organization dedicated solely to reproductive freedom in Washington.
Cedar River Clinics, founded as the Feminist Women’s Health Center, has provided compassionate reproductive health care since 1979. Cedar River Clinics has locations in Renton, Seattle, Tacoma, and Yakima. Cedar River Clinics is a social justice organization that combines direct services, with advocacy and community education. For more information about Cedar River Clinics, visit CedarRiverClinics.org.
